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

Fraud email example:

From: "Elumelu Tony" <elumelu.tony@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: tony_directorubaplc@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 12:17:54 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVAL / REMITTANCE NOTICE


UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
HEAD OFFICE: UBAHOUSE
37 MARINA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-803-390-7833, FAX: 234-1-7591176
EMAIL: tony_directorubaplc@yahoo.com

DEAR SIR,

PAYMENT APPROVAL / REMITTANCE NOTICE

WE ARE OBLIGED TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AN INWARD REMITTANCE
ORDER FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
INSTRUCTING US TO CONTACT YOU AND REMIT YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FUNDS
INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

HOWEVER, HANDLING THIS TRANSFER WITH EXTREME AND VIVID CAREFULNESS FOLLOWING
THE HIGH RATE AND VOLUMINOUS FRAUDS GOING ON HERE AND THERE UNDER THIS
DISPENSATION, BASED ON THAT WE CANNOT REMIT THIS FUNDS IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT
FIRST CONTACTING YOU TO FIND OUT THE FOLLOWING SECURITY ORIENTED
INFORMATION VIS:

1. BENEFICIARY NAME / ADDRESS
2. YOUR TELEPHONE NO. / FAX NO.
3. COMPLETE BANK DETAILS INCLUDING BANK ADDRESS.
4. OCCUPATION
5. AGE AND MARITAL STATUS

THE MOMENT THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, WE WILL COMPARE IT WITH WHAT WE
HAVE IN OUR CENTRAL COMPUTER AKI-ROOM/SYSTEM HERE, IF IT IS IN COMMORANCE
WITH YOUR GIVEN INFORMATION, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY WIRE YOUR CONTRACT /
INHERITANCE FUNDS SWIFTLY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

PLEASE YOU ARE ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH THESE DIRECTIVES IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO
ENABLE US INCLUDE YOUR FILE IN OUR PAYMENT MASTER LIST (PML) WHICH HAS BEEN
APPROVED FOR IMMEDIATE / FINAL REMITTANCE AT THE second QUARTER OF THIS
YEAR, 2008

WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE ON THE ABOVE PHONE, FAX NUMBER AND EMAIL.

REGARDS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

MR. TONY ELUMELU
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

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