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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: =?iso-8859-1?q?Erik=20Madu?= <erkmadu02@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: erikmmadu1@myway.com
Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 14:11:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION!!!


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: erkmadu02@yahoo.co.uk

URGENT ATTENTION!!!

FROM THE DESK OF:

DR.ERIK MADU.

ACCOUNTANT.

UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC.,

V/ISLAND LAGOS.


ATTN:SIR/MA


I am Dr.Erik Madu. an accountant with the UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC and I

need your assistance in remmitting a huge amount of money to your bank

account this money which originally belonged to Mr. Charles Fredrick a

national of your country who until his death was an employee with Shell


Oil Company in Nigeria,he died in Plane Crash with members of his

families 5 years ago,since then we have made several enquiries to your

embassy to locate any of the extended relatives and this has proved

unsuccessful.


After several unsuccessful attempts I decided to track your name over

the Internet to locate any member of his family. I have contacted you to

assist me in repatriating the money left behind by Mr.Charles Fredrick,

before thebank will declares it unserviceable.


Note that after final discusions with one of my superior in the TELEX

DEPARTMENT we arrived at contacting you as the next of kin to claim this

fund to your nominated bank account before the account is declared

confiscated,note also that this transfer will be concluded within the next

(7) seven official working days. I seek your consent to present you as

the next of kin to the deceased so that the $15million dollars can be

remmitted to your account and then we can share the money,25% to you and

70% for us, while 5% will take care of all expenses that might be

incured on the cause of the transfer. All I require is your honest

co-operation to enable us see this deal through.


I advise that you send across to me your contact address,direct phone

and fax number for prompt communication, and I guarantee you that this

transaction will be executed under a legitimate atmosphere that will

protect you from any breachof transaction / law. Call me on my number

+234-1-776-8029


Regards,


DR.ERIK MADU.

ACCOUNTANT.

(UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC).

- Erik Madu


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