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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: "Accountant Sam Osi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsamosi@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:12:14 -0700
Subject: Urgent response needed.


I am Mr. Sam Osi the director in Charge Of Auditing and Accounting Section with a financial institution in Africa. With due respect and regard, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will benefit the both of us. In order to transfer out the sum of $10M into a foreign account provided, I need a foreigner who is reliable and honest person who is capable and fit to receive this money through a bank to bank wire transfer.


During the course of our auditing last month, I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 2009 and since 2012 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files, I discovered that the owner of the account did not state any heir , hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited by our management.


The owner of this Account is Engineer {Fredrick} a foreigner, and an industrialist and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it. The account has no other stated heir and my investigation proves to me to be perfect and secure. However, I am revealing this to you believing in God that you will never let me down when the money is transferred into your foreign nominated bank account. At the conclusion of this business, I will give to you 40% of the total amount, while 55% will be for me and 5% percent will be used for any expenses we might run into during the processing of the fund Transfer.

Am looking forward to hearing from you. Reply me back at this alternative E-mail address: mrsamosi@yahoo.com.hk you can include your telephone or mobile number for easy Communication.

Best Regards
Mr. Sam Osi
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