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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: "MR. EDWARD L. ADAMU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardladamu20@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:58:26 -0700
Subject: OK....

 
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
1A AKINTOLA WAY GARRKI ABUJA.
E-mail: edwardladamu20@gmail.com
+234-817-381-1810
RE:PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.
I AM  MR. EDWARD L. ADAMU DEPUTY GOVERNOR CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, MY OFFICE MONITORS AND CONTROLS THE AFFAIRS OF ALL BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA CONCERNED WITH FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENTS.
I AM THE FINAL SIGNATORY TO ANY TRANSFER OR REMITTANCE OF HUGE FUNDS MOVING WITHIN BANKS BOTH ON THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS IN LINE TO FOREIGN CONTRACT SETTLEMENT.
I HAVE BEFORE ME LIST OF FUNDS, WHICH COULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME NOMINATED ACCOUNTS AS THESE ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED EITHER AS GHOST ACCOUNTS, UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AND OVER-INVOICED SUM ETC.
I WRITE TO PRESENT YOU TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA THAT YOU ARE AMONG THE PEOPLE EXPECTING THE FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO THEIR ACCOUNT AS A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, ON THIS NOTE, I WISH TO HAVE A DEAL WITH YOU AS REGARDS TO THE UNPAID CERTIFIED CONTRACT FUNDS.
I HAVE EVERY FILES BEFORE ME AND THE DATA'S WILL BE CHANGED TO YOUR NAME TO ENABLE YOU RECEIVE THE FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUND'S AMOUNT $30,000,000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS (THIRTY MILLION USD).
AS IT IS MY DUTY TO RECOMMEND THE TRANSFER OF THESE SURPLUS FUNDS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TREASURY AND RESERVE ACCOUNTS AS UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE YOU BASED ON THE INSTRUCTIONS I RECEIVED RECENTLY FROM THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON CONTRACT PAYMENTS /FOREIGN DEBTS TO SUBMIT THE LIST OF PAYMENT REPORTS / EXPENDITURES AND AUDITED REPORTS OF REVENUES.
AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS, I HAVE DECIDED TO REMIT THIS SUM FOLLOWING MY IDEA THAT WE HAVE A DEAL/AGREEMENT AND I AM GOING TO DO THIS LEGALLY. MY CONDITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
1. YOU WILL TAKE 35% OF YOUR CONTRACT FUNDS AS SOON AS YOU CONFIRM IT IN YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.
2. THIS DEAL MUST BE KEPT SECRET FOREVER, AND ALL CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE STRICTLY BY EMAIL / TELEPHONE THAT I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU, AND THEY ARE PRIVATE FOR SECURITY PURPOSES TO FORESTALL INFORMATION LEAKAGE.
3. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION INCLUDING YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS.
4. BOTH OF US HAVE TO INVEST ON THIS DEAL
I WILL ADVISE YOU ON WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY I HEAR FROM YOU AND THE TRANSFER WILL COMMENCE WITHOUT DELAY, AS I WILL PROCEED TO FIX YOUR NAME ON THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE INSTANTLY TO MEET THE SEVEN DAYS MANDATE. WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY SOON.
Yours sincerely
MR. EDWARD L. ADAMU
DEPUTY GOVERNOR CORPORATE
SERVICES DIRECTORATE (CBN)
 

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