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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MRS.IDEMUDIA BALOGUN" <idebalogun@idemubalogun.net>
Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2005 11:02:55 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

Dear Friend,
This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
yet met. The message could be strange, but real if you pay some attention to
it.I could have notified you earlier about it, at least for the sake of your
integrity. Please accept my sincere apologies.In bringing this message of
goodwill to you,I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any
pains. I apologize if I infringed on your privacy.

I am Mrs.Nike Idemudia Balogun, wife of the formal Inspector General of the
Nigerian police force . I got your email address from network directory in
the time I was desperately looking for a trustworthy person to assist me in
this confidential business. My husband Ahlaji Tafa Balogun ex-inspector
general of the Nigerian police,while in office was able to deposit a large
sum of money in different banks in europe. My husband is presently facing
trials and the movement of his family members (including me) is highly
restricted. We are forbidden to either travel abroad or out of our
localities.Unfortunately his plans has been twarted by his sorbodinate who
framed him up,the case is presently in court and he is presently in a house
arrest,hense his movement is being restricted pending on the out come of the
investigations by the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).In my
last visit to him,he confided in me that I should not make any attempt to
travel out of the country that he has gathered that my movement and my
activities is being monitored.Right now as I am writing you this letter,my
husband comes out of the national news every 9:oopm everyday if you wish to
see news papers carrying my husband's story please kindly let me know.

My husband,during his tenure,deposited the sum of $25,000,000.00 TWENTY FIVE
MILLION DOLLARS with a security firm in Amsterdam,Netherlands.Presently, the
US$25 million my husband transfered to Netherlands is safe with the security
firm.Before you can get access to it,I have to
give you the password.I am therefore soliciting your help to have this money
transfered into your account before my government gets wind of this fund,as
you know my husband was the police boss in Nigeria before his arrest. My
reason for doing this is because it will be difficult for the
Nigerian government to trace my husband's's money to an individual's
account,especially when such an individual has no relationship with anybody
in Nigeria.I decided to keep that money for my family use because it is what
is left of my huband's property ,alot of my husband's assets and bank
accounts have been seized. At present the money is safe with the Security
Company in Nertherlands.I am currently and temporarily living in Nigeria
with my family' Moreover the political climate in Nigeria at the moment
being so sensitive and unstable.With this password and information ,I will
send you a power of attorney to the security firm; When you are ready,I will
give you the information needed before you can get access to the fund. You
will then proceed to Netherlands where the consignment containing the funds
will be released to you.
I promise to give you 20% of the total funds as compensation for your
assistance 5% will be set aside to take care of all expenses that we may
incure during this transaction.Please ,reply by furnishing me with your full
names and complete home address so that I can pass them to my family for
easy documentations.

I am willing to give you a reasonable percentage of the fund for your
assistance.PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY
REQUIRED. Please indicate your interest by replying me through this email
address:nikebalogun121212@excite.com or balogun121212@excite.com
Yours sincerely,
MRS. N.I BALOGUN


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