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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: frank owen <frankowen131@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 12:53:23 +0200
Subject: Respond

Nigeria Oil AndPetroleumThe Manager Mr Frank OwenDear Friend,After due deliberation with my partner I decided to transferthe of sum of us $24.6m(Twenty Four Million,Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)Respond, the business proposal was executedThis fund resulted from an over-invoiced contract awarded by us under thebudget allocation to our office the contract was executed commissioned.Now, we are left with the balance of us $24.6m as the over invoicedamount,which we have deliberately over estimated for the business. we haveagreed to share the money in the following percentages: 40% for you, 60%for us.Note that this transaction is very much free hence the business wascarefully planned before it was successfully executed and we the officialsinvolved in the business . we need foreign assistance to be involved, thiswill enable the presidency reconcile our debt ratio with the outside worldand to most of us, this is a lifetime transaction we cannot afford to missit. Upon indication of your interest to fully co-operate with us, aninformation form will be sent to you via email for completion.As soon as we confirm receipt of this money in your nominated bankaccount, i will come over to your country to arrange for our own share andpossibly invest part of this money in your country. Let honesty and trustbe our watchword throughout this transaction. I shall furnish you with somedetails about myself. Your prompt reply will be highly appreciated.ë-regards.Mr Frank Owen

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