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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: "John Azikwe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <azik.john4@Safe-mail.net>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2014 11:34:33 -0400
Subject: Dear Friend

 
 
Greetings
 
Before I proceed I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you, I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of approach to establish a relationship of trust,
I am Azikwe: :a solicitor and an advocate of the supreme court of Nigeria, I am the personal attorney to Engr. Steve Anderson , a consultant with an oil company here in our country. On the 20th May 2007,my  client and his  wife were involved in an autocrash accident along Lokoja Express Road.Unfortunately they lost their lives in the  event of the accident, Since then I have made several contacts as to locate any of his extended relatives, but all proved abortive.hence I decided to contact you. Since then I have made several contacts as to locate any of his extended relatives, but all proved abortive.hence I decided to contact you.
I am contacting you to assist in retrieving the money valued at about(US$17m) that was left behind by my client with the a Bank, before it gets confiscated by the bank.recently,the bank  issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.since I  have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 3 yearsnow, I hereby seek your consent to act as the next of kin  to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at (US$17 million dollars) can be paid to you and then you  and I can share the money 60% 40%.I have worked out a procedure that will ensure success, and as a lawyer, I will ensure that all our actions are within the  confines of the law. Should you be interested please, P.s. furnish me with your most direct tel and cell phone numbers for  oral conversation after which I will provide you with more deta! ils of this transaction
 
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated via jhn.azikwe@gmail.com
 
Yours Sincerely.
 
John Azikwe Esq)

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