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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: "Ambassador Sam Joe Edem" <onyema_oguchukwu@terra.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: samedem_joe@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 23:45:09 +0200
Subject: Fund Transfer & Investments.

Ambassador Sam Joe Edem
(Chairman NDDC),
Niger Delta Development Commission,
Old Secretariat Complex,
Victoria-Island, Lagos.

Dear Sir,
I am Ambassador Sam Joe Edem (Chairman NDDC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
My commission - The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)-which is in charge of managing and supervising the disbursement of oil sales revenues for the Nigerian government which covers payment to foreign and local contractors that have executed contracts for the Federal Government. The revenue under our control runs into several hundred of millions of dollars monthly. Myself and other colleagues in the NDDC are currently in need of a foreign partner with whose bank account we shall transfer the sum of Twenty one Million United States Dollars($21M). This fund was accrued from various over invoicing of foreign contractors’ payments made over the years.
The Total fund is presently waiting in the Government Account named CBN/FGN INDEPENDENT REVENUE account Central Bank of Nigeria. However, by virtue of my position as civil servant and staff of the NDDC, I cannot acquire this funds in my name. This is because as top civil servant, I am not allowed by law of the land to own or operate bank accounts outside our country for now.
I have been delegated as a matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas partner in whose account we would transfer the fund, hence the reason for this mail. We shall be Transferring the money to your account with the company's name you provide as the beneficiary, under the guise that you are being paid for a contract which you/your company executed for our country through the Commission.
For your support and partnership, please reply me to negotiate your fees or the percentage you wish to be paid when the funds arrive your bank account. You must however note that this transaction, with regards to our disposition to continue with you, is subject to these terms. Firstly, our conviction of your transparency. Secondly, that you treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Finally and above all, that you will provide an account over which you have absolute control.
The transaction, although discrete, is legitimate and there is no risk or legal liability either to ourselves or yourself now or in the future as we have put in place the necessary machinery that will ensure a hitch free transfer into your account upon acceptance. The transfer will be effected to your account within five - seven (5-7) working days from the date we reach an agreement and you furnish me with a suitable bank account and company name with your contact numbers including fax number.
I am looking forward to doing business with you and do solicit your confidentiality in this transaction, Please mail back your response through this email address for me to update you on our plans as to how we intend to actualize this transaction.
Sincerely yours,
Ambassador Sam Joe Edem


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