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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: "Irabo James" <jirabo88@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:31:16 -0800
Subject: MY INTRODUCTION

Dear Sir,
I am Prince James Irabo. from the First Bank of Nigeria
Plc,Lagos Branch.I got your contact through.the internet I
have urgent and very confidential business proposal for
you. On January 7, 1999, an America
Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation,Mr. Charles Ballassi made a numbered
time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at
US$9,700,000.00(Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand
Dollars)in my branch upon maturity. I sent a rountine
notification to his forwarding address but got no
reply.After a month,wesent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers,the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Charles Ballassi
died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999[with Egyptian
990] with other passengers aboaed as you can confirm it
yourself via the website below:
http://www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html
on further investigation, i found out that he died without
making a WILL, and attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.I therefore made further investigation
and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassi did not declare
any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum
ofUS$9,700,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is
being rolled over with the pricipal sum at the end of
eachyear. No one will ever come forward to claim
it.According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of
(Six)years, the money will revert to the ownership of the
Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. Charles
Ballassi so that the fruit of this old man's labour will
not get into the hands of some corrupt Government
officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide
immediately your
full name and address so that the Attorney will preparethe
necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in
place as the next of kin.We shall employ the service of
two attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL
and obtain the ecessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favour for the transfer.Any
bank account in any part of the world which you will
provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to
you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will
be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all, the
paperwork for this transaction will be done by the
attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees
the successful execution of ths transaction. If you are
interested,please reply immediately via the private email
address below,upon your responce,i shall provide you with
more details and relevant documents that will help you
understand the transaction. Please observe utmost
confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because i shall
require your assitance to invest my share in your country.
Please upon the reciept of this mail message, send to me
the following to enable start the process of the fund into
your bank account:
1. Your full Name and address
2. The name of your bank
where you want the fund to be transferedinto, Account
beneficiary
3. Your private Telephone and fax numbers

Awaiting your urgent reply via my

email:jirabo44@ny.com orjirabo90@ny.com

Thanks and regards,
Prince James Irabo.
MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PlC.


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