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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ben Obi" <benomartins100@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: benobi@inbox.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:03:00 +0000
Subject: URGENT PLEASE

HEADQUARTER,
CITIBANK OF NIGERIA.
LAGOS, NIGERIA.
35-40 MARINA STREET,LAGOS ISLAND.
private email :benobi@inbox.com


Dear friend,

First, I'm soliciting your utmost confidenciality in this Transaction. I am
MR.OBI MARTINS, credit officer with CitiBank of Nigeria PLC, Lagos. I came
to you in my private search for a reliable person to handle this
confidential transaction, which involves huge sum of money to your country.

The Proposition:

A foreigner an American, late Mr Morris Thompson (SNR) who died on February
4th, 2000 board Alaska Airlines Flight 261. alonside other 87 passengers .
Please view the website below for verification.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html,
while returning to his country from a business trip. He Banked with us at
CitiBank of Nigeria plc Lagos and had a closing balance worth
US$15.6,Million, having heard of the tragic incident involving late Mr
Morris Thompson (SNR) the bank now expects a next of kin as beneficiary.
Valuable efforts have been made by CitiBank to get in touch with any of his
family's but I personally found out that he until his death neither had wife
nor children that is known to us.

Meanwhile this is the website of the people that died in the Alaska Airlines
Flight 261, The only name of next of kin given to us by late Mr Morris
Thompson unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and
this is unknown to the bank. I'm taking this advantage in order to bettermy
life and that of my family, I now decided to seek your permission to have
you stand as next of kin to late late Mr Morris Thompson, so that the fund
(US$15.6M)will be released in to your account as the next of kin. All
documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked
out, by the lawyer that I will employ to work with me down here on your
behalf.

I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and
risk free involvement.
Your share stays while the rest will be for myself. The sharing of the fund
between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of the tatal sum will go to
you for your effort and commitment to the sucess of this transaction. 65%
will be for us here. While 5% as been set aside for expenses incured in due
process of this transaction.

As soon as I receive an acknowledge of the receipt of this message in
Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process. If this proposal
is acceptable by you, kindly get to me .

I want you to also furnish me with your private telephone/fax or preferably
your mobile numbersm
address and banking informations and I will have to apply for the release
and subsequent Transfer of the fund in your favor.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.


Yours faithfully,

MR. Obi Martins
(Credit Officer, Citibank Of Nigeria)


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