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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: DR.BENEFITS <benefitsacross@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:21:31 -0800
Subject: YOU ARE NOMINATED

DEAR SIR/MA, I AM DR. BENEFITS A. OREGUN, THE CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE SET UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA UNDER THE NEW CIVILIAN DISPENSATION TO AWARD NEW CONTRACTS AND REVIEW EXISTING ONES IN THE NIGER-DELTA AREA OF NIGERIA. DUE TO THE FEDERAL GORVERNMENT AMNESTY PROGRAMES IN NIGER-DELTA OF NIGERIA, YOU HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO PAR-TAKE IN RE-CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE AWARD OF CONTRACTS TO TURN THE NIGER-DELTA AREA INTO MEGA STATES, CITIES AND GAINFULL EMPLOYEMENTS TO HER INDEGINEOUS CITIZENS MODALITIES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF MOBILIZATIONS FUNDS WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS SUBJECT TO YOUR SATISFACTION OF THE STATED TERMS. TO ACCORD THIS TRANSACTION THE LEGALITY IT DESERVES AND FOR MUTUAL SECURITY OF THE FUNDS THE WHOLE APPROVAL PROCEDURES WILL OFFICIALLY AND LEGALLY PROCESSED WITH YOUR NAME OR THE NAME OF ANY COMPANY YOU MAY PROVIDE AS THE BONEFIDE BENEFICIARY. ONCE MORE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING PUT IN OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF MY COUNTRY, I AM AVERSE TO HAVING MY IMAGE AND CAREER DENTED. THIS MATTER SHOULD THEREFORE BE TREATED WITH UTMOST URGENCY IT DESERVES. KINDLY FORWARD TO US : YOUR COMPANIES NAME,PHONE & FAX,BUSINESS REGISTRATION NUMBERS, ============================================================== TO ENABLE US SCRUTINIZE AND NOMINATE WHO IS HOWEVER QUALIFY ENOUGH FOR ONE OF THE CATEGORIES OR CAPACITIES OF THE CONTRACTS. REPLY TO BELOW E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. DR.BENEFITS

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