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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: HAED OF INVESTIGATION UNIT <affafa--------7746@att.net>
Reply-To: investigationunit@wwjd.ru
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 19:11:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Notification




HAED OF INVESTIGATION UNIT
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMISSION.EFCC.
LAGOS NIGERIA.
 
Urgent Notification.
 
The Economic Financial Crimes Commission {EFCC}, through our intelligence Monitoring Network have discovered that some group of unscrupulous elements have fraudulently using the federal government of Nigeria letter headed paper to miss-inform creditors like you causing a lot of problems and irregularities towards the release of your long overdue payment, because of all this fraudulent act this office has been dully intervened on the release of your funds. Have putting all out intelligent network to verify and investigated your payment properly. Based on our findings in this investigation department we wish to warn you against some Miscreants, Hoodlums and Touts who go about scamming innocent people by claiming to be who they are not and thereby tarnishing the image of this wonderful country, NIGERIA.
 
We were informed that some Hoodlums are contacting you in respect to the collection of your fund which was long approved in your favor. As a matter of fact we have been on this investigation for some time, known to no one but the Presidency and some top government official who are in support of this investigation teamed to help stop fraudulent activities in country, and as well restore the image of the country that has been tarnished by this group of people.
 
we are officially warning you that we have set up a security network to monitor you, if we find out that you are still dealing with any of this criminals who are claiming to be the diplomat, we will stop and cancel your payment file.
 
Secondly, you are advised to keep this information to yourself, do not for any reason disclose this information to them, even when they are strong ling for you to let them know, do not make any mistake by letting them know that we have contacted you because if you do let them know, they will find one thing or the other to convince you to believe their criminal words. Be warned.
 
Note that we will surely bring the entire impostor to book. If only you will cooperate with us by forwarding to us all fraudulent messages you have received from them and the name of people who you have sent money to, this will help us to track them immediately. And note that if any of them is caught and found guilty he/she we go to jailed for 25 years (Twenty Five Years) as it is under the Degree 47 of the Constitution of this bank under the section 101(b) of criminal law. we are waiting for you to write us back present to us Your all your Contact detail along with any copy of your ID to enable us Verify the payment of $10 Million due to you.
 
We apologize on behalf of the President and the people of Nigeria for any delay and lost this must have coursed you in any way and promise that such thing will not occur again in the future.  More importantly, if you are currently dealing with any one of them regarding your fund, we urge you to stop further contact with them as you are taking a very big risk!!!  It might interest you to know that you will never get your fund from them as they have nothing to offer. The hoodlums will continue coming up with expenses and thereby requesting for money from you until you go Bankrupt.
 
Get back to us immediately and forward your address, your direct phone and fax numbers to this office immediately for immediate reconfirmation and release of your $10 million.
 
You are advice not to accept any fax or telephone calls that does not come from this office.
 
Best regards,
 
Mr.Muazu Zubairu
Head of Operation
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. (E.F.C.C)

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