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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "charles oboh" <charles_oboh17@msn.com>
Reply-To: charles_oboh1@sify.com
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:04:45 +0000
Subject: Quest for assistance

PACIFIC BANK PLC,
9TH FLOOR, IKOYI ESTATE
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS.

I am Barrister Charles Oboh, Provincial Director Pacific Bank of
nigeria, victoria island Branch. I have urgent and very confidential
business proposition for you.

      On June 6, 2002, an American Oil consultant/contractor with the
nigeria Mining Corporation, Mr. michael creek made a numbered time
(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$20,200,000.00
(Twenty Million two hundred thousand Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I
sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract
employers, the nigeria Mining Corporation that Mr. michael creek died
from an automobile accident.

   On further investigation, I found out that  he died without making a
WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I
therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. michael
creek did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$20,200,000.00 is
still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the
principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to
claim it.

    According to nigeria Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the
money will revert to the ownership of the nigeria Government if nobody
applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will
like you to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. michael creek so that the fruits 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 names and address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary
documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of
kin. We shall employ the service of two Attorneys for drafting and notuarization of
the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A 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 the ratio of 60% for
me and 40% for you.

     There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction
will be done by the Attorney and   my position as the Branch Manager
guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below.. Upon
your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please observe utmost
confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share
in your country.

Sincerely
Charles Oboh
please respond to my email:
charles_oboh1@sify.com

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