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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. JAMES IRABO" <jirabo804@ny.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 09:04:36 -0400
Subject: MY INTRODUCTION.

Dear Sir, I am Prince James Irabo. from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc,Lagos Branch.I got your contact through.the internet I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. On January 7, 1999, an America Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr. Charles Ballassi made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$9,700,000.00(Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars)in my branch upon maturity. I sent a rountine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,wesent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers,the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Charles Ballassi died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999[with Egyptian 990] with other passengers aboaed as you can confirm it yourself via the website below: http://www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html on further investigation, i found out that he died without making a WILL, and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassi did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum ofUS$9,700,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over with the pricipal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of (Six)years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. Charles Ballassi so that the fruit of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt Government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name and address so that the Attorney will preparethe necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ the service of two attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain the ecessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer.Any bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all, the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of ths transaction. If you are interested,please reply immediately via the private email address below,upon your responce,i shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because i shall require your assitance to invest my share in your country. Please upon the reciept of this mail message, send to me the following to enable start the process of the fund into your bank account: 1. Your full Name and address 2. The name of your bank where you want the fund to be transferedinto, Account beneficiary 3. Your private Telephone and fax numbers Awaiting your urgent reply via my email:ijames707@ny.com or ijames707seeqmail.com Thanks and regards, Prince James Irabo. MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PlC.

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