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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: "william egobia" <william_egobia@msn.com>
Reply-To: william_okonkwo77@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 04 Aug 2005 14:27:03 +0000
Subject: URGENT & REPLY

FROM THE DESK OF WILLIAM EGOBIA.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
EMAIL:william_egobia@msn.com
ATTN:

I AM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS.MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASSIGNED ME TO SEEK F0R ASSISTANCE
OF RELIABLE FOREIGN COMPANY OR AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH WHOM WE CAN TRANSFER
THE SUM OF US$ 21.5, 000, 000. 00 (TWENTY ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSANDDOLLARS) WHICH AROSE FROM THE DELIBERATE OVER - INVOICE OF SOME
CONTRACT AWARDED BY THE CORPORATION IN THE TWILIGHT DAYS OF THE LAST MILIARY
REGIME. HOWEVER, THE CURRENT FAVOURABLE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN THE
COUNTRY SINCE THE HAND OVER FROM MILITARY TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
GOVERNMENT NOW PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED OUT
OF THE COUNTRY.
A FRIEND WHO WAS FORMERLY RESIDING IN YOUR COUNTRY MADE YOUR ADDRESS
AVAILABLE TO ME. HE ASSURED ME OF YOUR COMPANYS VIABILITY AND CAPABILITY IN
BUSINESS TRANSACTION THOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW MY REAL NTENTIONS.THIS ASSURANCE
GAVE ME COURAGE TO LINK YOU UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION, AND I HOPE
IT WILL BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.
OUR CONTACTS IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
HAVE GIVEN US A GO AHEAD ORDER FOR REMITTANCE, SO WE HAVE SET IN MOTION THE
MACHINERY FOR THE TAKE OFF OF THIS TRANSACTION AND FURTHER ACTION WILL
COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY WE HEAR FROM YOU. WE HAVE AGREED THAT AFTER THE
TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 30% THE
OFFICIALS, MY COLLEAGUES AND I SHALL TAKE 60% WHILE 10% SHALL BE MAPPED OUT
TO COVER FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED IN THE
COURSE OF TRANSACTION.
REQUIERMENT NEEDED IS THIS
1.YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRES
2 YOUR COMPANY'S NAME ADDRESS
3 ACCOUNT NUMBER/SWFIT CODE
4. TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBER AND YOUR PRAVITE TELEPHONE
THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF
THIS TRANSACTION. ALL WE REQUIRED IS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE AND
ASSURANCE THAT OUR OWN SHARE WILL BE GIVEN TO US WHEN THIS MONEY IS
TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
ENSURE A NO RISK SITUATION ON THE SIDES OF BOTH PARTIES AND IT IS BELIEVED
THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL LAST FOR 10 WORKING DAYS, BARRING ANY DELAY.
PLEASE IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS, I WILL OBLIGE YOU WITH FURTHER
INFORMATION.
BEST REGARDS,
MR.WILLIAM EGOBIA

NB: DO NOT FAIL TO INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND
FAX NUMBER WHILE REPLYING THIS LETTER FOR EASY
COMMUNICATIONS


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