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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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Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER MARK UFOH KOFI" <law_dufoh@fsmail.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: uba_o@netzero.com
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 09:10:46 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

GOOD DAY.

I AM BARRISTER MARK UFOH KOFI. I AM REACHING YOU ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT, CHIEF UBANGA ADAMS, THE MANAGER, UNION SECURITIES & FINANCE LTD, GHANA, FOR A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

THE PACKAGE IS THAT HE MANDATED ME TO SEARCH DELIGENTLY FOR A TRUSTWORTHY FOREINER WHO COULD STAND AS BENEFICIARY FOR SOME LUGGAGES WHEN SHIPPED. THE CONSIGNMENT AS YOU WILL LIKE TO KNOW CONTAINS GOLD AND MONEY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LUGGAGES WERE DEPOSITED WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY
YEARS BACK BY COL. ISAMA OKONKWO (NOW LATE) WHO WAS A CLOSE ALLY TO FORMER LIBERIA PRESIDENT, CHALES TAYLOR WHO IS CURRENTLY ON EXILE IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA.

MY DEAR, WHAT WE ASK OF YOU THEREFORE IS YOUR AUTHORISATION AND CONSENT TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE CARGO MANIFEST AS THE CONSIGNEE AND BENEFICIARY OF THE LUGGAGES SO THAT YOU CAN CLAIM THEM ON LANDING. ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE LUGGAGES ARE IN MY CUSTODY. I WILL SEND ALL INCLUDING THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP THAT WILL BE SECURED IN YOUR FAVOUR AS THE CONSIGNEE.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR INTEREST AND ABILITY TO PROSECUTE THE PROJECT BY
SENDING TO ME YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS; PHONE AND FAX NUMBER URGENTLY TO ENABLE ME CALL YOU FOR FURTHER BREIFING.

BE INFORMED THAT A HANDSOME COMPENSATION AWAITS YOU IF YOU ACCEPT TO
EXECUTE THE DEAL WITH HIM. MY CLIENTS EMAIL IS uba_o@netzero.com

THANKING YOU IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR CO-OPERATION.

REGARDS,

BARRISTER MARK UFOH KOFI.


Anti-fraud resources: