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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: "Mr. O. I. Abiola" <mabiola33@web-mail.com.ar> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 00:53:10 -0800
Subject: HONESTY GREETING/REPLY

Dear Friend,

I know you will see my proposal to you as an embarrassment considering
the fact that we do not know ourselves. Well, following the death
of my parent, I have been thrown into a stateof utter confusion,
frustration and hopelessness. I am the Son of Late Chief M.K.O Abiola who won the 1993 presidential elections as the president and was killed My mothers was also assassinated by the gun men from the military junta.

www.ngex.com/personalities/voices/politics.htm
My mothers assasination:
www.h-net.org/~africa/obituaries/msabiola.html
www.africaaction.org/docs96/nig9606.htm

Just before my mother died he charged me to look for a foreigner who would assist me to secure the sum of USD$2M and transfer this money to a bank account outside my country For investment abroad.

l would be very grateful if you could accept to help me or been my partner to enable me achieve this great objective, so I have discussed this matter with our family lawyer. I am seriously considering to settle down in your country in a friendly atmosphere as soon as this fund get into your account, but if it is impossible, just help me in diverting this fund into your account.

Please honesty is the watch word in this transaction. I will require
your telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence communication
immediately. I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith. Please expedite action.

Yours faithfully,

Best Regards.

Mr. O. I. Abiola



Anti-fraud resources: