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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Edward Ikechi <onimisisalaudeen416@gmail.com>
Reply-To: offieicpc@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2022 01:50:08 -0700
Subject: Your Assistamce Is Needed

Good Day,I saw your contact email from Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce
and decided to contact you after much prayers and consideration since
I cannot be able to see you face to face for now, at first I strongly
believed that any information received from the Chambers Of Commerce
Office is correct and must be relied on.How are you today? I know that
this mail may come to you almost a surprise as we never met before,
but before you proceed reading this mail, I want you to settle your
mind and read with good understanding of the situation, this is true
and not a joke. However,I am Barrister Edward Ikechi, Attorney to the
late Engr. Steve Moore, a national of Northern American, who used to
work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria, on
the 11th of August, 2014. My client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express
Road.Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the
accident, since then I have made several inquiries to several
Embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I
decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member
of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you, I contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my
client, I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you
are the only surviving relation of my client, otherwise the Estate he
left behind will be confiscated or declared not serviceable by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank
where the deceased had an account valued at about $15 million U.S
dollars (Fifteen million U..S. America dollars), Consequently, the
bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.All I require is
your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through and also
forward the following to me so that I can file an application of claim
in your name to the bank immediately:1, Your Full Names:2, House
Address:3, Your Country:4, Your Contact Telephone Number:5, Your Age
and Gender:6, Your Occupation:I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law.
Regards,Barrister Edward Ikechi.

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