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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: "Dr Usman Ali" <dr_usman@usmanali.org>
Reply-To: usman_ali@usmanali.org
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 09:56:42 +0000
Subject: FROM DR USMAN ALI VERY URGENT

Dear Sir,

My name is Dr Usman Ali I am about to retire from my work before the the end
of next year. I write to inform you of my intention to invest in Hotel
business in your country .and to request to you to assists me carrying out
feasibility studies on location, type and estimation on how much it will
cost to establish a three star hotel, either by outright purchase, or
already existing but dilapidated one and renovate or setting up a new one
entirely.

If you sincerely carry out this survey, and give me a feedback as early as
possible, I will give you the power of attorney to build & manage the hotel
on my behalf, Pending my retirement next year. I have fourty five million
United State Dollars (US$45,000,000.00) . I deposited this in a
Finance company outside the country.

I am presently down with sickness as a result of my old age but I have been
assured by my doctor that I will be fine and back to work soon. Please do
let me know if you are capable of handling all these. I will be expecting
your reply as soon as possible.

Thanks

Yours sincerely,

Dr Usman Ali


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