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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "coker yakubu" <c_yakubu@beagonplc.org>
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:03:06 +0000
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT

ATTN:DEAR FRIEND,

IT IS WITH A HEART FULL OF HOPE THAT I WRITE, SOLICITING FOR YOUR
STRICT CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS
BEING CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET. FOR I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH OUR
LARGE OFFICE OF NIGERIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, WHO ASSURED
ME OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO EXECUTE A TRANSACTION OF THIS GREAT
MAGNITUDE.

I AM DR. COKER YAKUBU, AN ACCOUNTANT WITH BEAGON NIGERIA, LTD. FOREIGN OIL
COMPANY BASED IN LAGOS, NIGERIA. BEAGON WAS INVOLVED IN PROSPECTING,
DRILLING AND BUNKERING OF OIL AT HIGH SEA (OFFSHORE), WITH EXPATRIATE
CONSISTING MAJORITY OF THE STAFF STRENGTH. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE EXPATRIATES
GOT INTO AN ILLEGAL SALE OF OIL AND THE MONEY FROM IT TRANSFERRED THROUGH A
SECURITY COMPANY OUT OF THE COUNTRY BUT WITH A SECURITY STAMP ON IT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA DISCOVERED THE ILLEGAL DEAL, AND
REVOKED THEIR LICENSE AND THE EXPATRIATES WERE REPATRIATED. SO, BY VIRTUE
OF MY POSITION AS THE ACCOUNTANT OF THE COMPANY, I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION
THE DOCUMENTS CONTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT TWO OF THESE TRUNK BOXES
DEPOSITED WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY. THE CONTENT OF THESE BOXES IS TEN
MILLION FIVE HOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$10.5M).

I HAVE PUT IN AN APPLICATION WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY TO TRANSFER
THESE BOXES TO THEIR CORRESPONDENCE OFFICE IN ABROAD, WHICH THEY HAVE
OBLIGED. AND BEING THAT THIS DEAL WAS BEEN CARRIED OUT BY FOREIGN FIRM,I
NEED A TRUSTWORTHY FOREIGNER LIKE YOU THAT WILL ASSIST ME TO A LOGICAL
CONCLUSION OF THIS PENDING BUSINESS WHICH BOTH OF US WILL BOUND TO BENEFIT
EARNESTLY.ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND BEFORE THE SECURITY COMPANY AND
SIGN AS ONE OF EXPATRIATES TO ENABLE YOU CLAIM THE MONEY AND PAY IT INTO
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

PLEASE, NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK-FREE, FOR EVERY
MACHINERIES HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. REMEMBER, THAT
I HAVE WITH ME ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT WILL PROVE THAT THE MONEY
IS FOR US.I EXPECT YOU TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND KIND ENOUGH TO KEEP MY OWN
SHARE, WHEN THE MONEY HIT YOUR ACCOUNT.

WE HEREBY AGREE TO COMPENSATE YOUR SINCERE AND CANDID EFFORT IN THIS REGARD
WITH 20% OF THE FUND AFTER THE TRANSFER AND 5%(PERCENT) WILL BE SET ASIDE
FOR ANY EXPENSES BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION, TELEPHONE
BILLS ETC, WHILE 75% WILL BE FOR ME AND TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES. THIS DEAL
WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) WORKING DAYS AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE
YOUR READINESS TO ASSIST IN THIS BENEFICIAL TRANSACTION.

THEREFORE, I WILL WANT YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION:
[A]YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS
[B]YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER INCLUDING YOUR MOBILE WHERE I CAN ALWAYS
REACH YOU AT ALL TIME.
[C]YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT NUMBER

I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU, AND SOLICIT YOUR
CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION AND PLEASE DIRECT EVERY OF YOUR
RESPONSE AND COMMUNICATION STRICTLY VIA THIS EMAIL:
{c_yakubu@beagonplc.org}TO ENABLE ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTING OR NOT.

YOURS, FAITHFULLY,
DR. COKER YAKUBU
EMAIL: {c_yakubu@beagonplc.org}
DIRECT SECURITY TEL:234-803-3896861


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