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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "obah alamu" <obahalamu_25@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: obahalamu71@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sun, 06 May 2007 19:24:22 +0100
Subject: URGENT GREETINGS!

URGENT GREETINGS!
FROM THE DESK OF:
Dr.Obah Alamu ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC MARINA- BRANCH,
LAGOS.
TO: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO
DEAR SIR,
RE:TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF US$5.5M DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT,
FIRST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION.THIS IS BY VIRTUE
OF IT'S NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET.THOUGH I KNOW
THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND
WORRIED. BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU THROUGH THIS MEDIUM DUE TO THE URGENCY OF
THIS TRANSACTION AS WE HAVE BEEN RELIABLY INFORMED OF YOUR DISCRETENESS AND
ABILITY. LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU. I AM Dr.Obah Alamu, A
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. MARINA BRANCH OFFICE
LAGOS.I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT YOU IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND
REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION AS WE ARE STILL IN
ACTIVE SERVICE.
THE PROPOSITION. AN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL,LATE ENGINEER BUTCH R.MIGUEL,AN OIL
MERCHANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, UNTIL HIS DEATH
THREE YEARS AGO IN A GHASTY AIR CRASH IN AN EGYPTIAN AIRLINE,BANKED WITH US
HERE AT UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. MARINA BRANCH LAGOS,AND HAD A CLOSSING
BALANCE OF US$5.5M (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS)WHICH THE BANK UNQUESTIONABLY EXPECTS IT TO BE CLAIMED BY ANY
AVAILABLE FOREIGN NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE LATE BENEFICIARY OR ALTERNATIVELY BE
DONATED TO A DISCREDITED TRUST FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS
AT THE MILITARY WAR COLLEGE IN KADUNA STATE HERE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. SEQUEL
TO THIS,FERVENT VALUABLE EFFORTS WERE MADE BY UNION BANK PLC.
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE MIGUEL'S FAMILY OR RELATIVES BUT PROVED TO
NO AVAIL.IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED POSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
LOCATE ANY OF THE LATE ENGR.BUTCH R. MIGUEL'S [NEXT-OF-KIN] HE HAS NO NO
WIFE NOR CHILDREN) THAT THE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OUR HONOURABLE
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,(Retired)MAJOR-GENERAL KALU
UKE KALU THAT AN ARRANGEMENT BE MADE FOR THE FUND TO BE DECLARED
UN-CLAIMABLE" AND SUBSIQUENTLY BE DONATED TO THE TRUST FUND FOR THE PURCHASE
OF ARMS AND AMMUNITON TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE COURSE OF WAR IN AFRICA AND THE
WORLD IN GENERAL. IN ORDER TO AVERT THIS CRUDE AND NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT,SOME
OF MY TRUSTED COLLEAGUES AND I NOW SEEK YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE YOU STAND AS
THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO LATE ENGR. BUTCH R.MIGUEL, SO THAT THE FUND US$5.5M WOULD
BE RELEASED AND PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE BENEFICIARY'S NEXT-OF-KIN. ALL
DOCUMENTSAND PROVES TOENABLE YOU RECIEVE THIS FUNDWILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED
OUT AND MORESO AS PROFESSIONAL BANKERS, WE ARE ASSURING YOU OF 100%
RISK-FREE INVOLVEMENT. YOUR SHARE STAYS WHILE THE REST WILL BE FOR MYSELF
AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES IN YOUR COUNTRY.
IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ALRIGHT BY YOU,THEN KINDLY GET TO ME IMMEDIATELY. THANK
YOU IN ANTICIPATON OF YOUR CO-OPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
Dr.Obah Alamu
(Senior Accountant)
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam