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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: "COLLINS OBI" <c.obi7@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: collins_obi@netcourrier.com
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:39:31 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL.


*From Mr Collins Obi
Cotonou Benin Republic
West Africa

Dear friend,

I hoped that you will not expose or betray this trust and confident that i
am about to repose on you for the mutual benefit of our both families. We
have never met before but I believe that we will know each other very soon.

I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($10.5) million
into your account. The money has been dormant for years in our bank here
without any body coming for it.

I want you to apply for the fund as the business partner/nearest person to
our deceased customer (the owner of the account) who died a long with his
supposed next of kin in an air crash few years ago.*

*I don't want the money to go into our bank treasury as unclaimed fund. So
this is the reason why I contacted you, so that we will release the money to
you as the business partner to the deceased customer.

Meanwhile, all the whole arrangement to make you the benefice next of kin to
the deceased has been made and all his information in right in my office.
the directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your
self to this great business opportunity.*


*I am the bill and exchange manager Bank of Africa here in Cotonou Benin
republic. So, your interest will be highly protected in this bank as soon as
you indicate your interest.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send you full details on how the business
will be executed and also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned
sum if you agree to transact the business with me.*

*I know you will not feel comfortable to release your contact as you don't
know me in person but you don't have to fear for anything. Reply with you
private telephone number so that i will call you to explain better to you.*

*Reply to my alternative email address:
**collins_obi@netcourrier.com*<collins_obi@netcourrier.com>
*Thanks and hoping to hear from you. Call me on my private telephone
number.+229 9701 93 22

Mr Collins Obi*

**

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