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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: "james umunna" <harrisk02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jamesumunna1@hotmail.ro
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:35:21 +0000
Subject: PLEASE HELP

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ. I received a very
reliable information about you, on the internet and would like you
to assist me in this transaction.

However, I am JAMES UMUNNA, the only child to the former Chief of
Army Staff Federal Republic of Nigeria who is presently
late,Gen. MICHEAL JAMES.UMUNNA. For the past eighteen (18) months, I
have accepted Christ as my Personal Lord and Saviour, and I look
forward on how to expand the Gospel of Christ Jesus. My father
revealed to me before his death that he has the sum of $20M (Twenty
Million United States Dollars) that he kept in a financial Security company
for safekeeping.

This money I have decided to use it in propagating the word of God;
like building magnificent church/ministry in your country. So I
would like you to assist me in receiving this funds in your country
as brethren in Christ.The task of propergating the word of God may be
too demanding but the reward is plentiful.As you make yourself
available for this great feat, so his blessing shall also be
available to you.AMEN.

Looking forward for an urgent reply.

For more information regarding to this transaction I will reveal to
you as soon as you get back to me through my email.

Thanks and God Bless.
Your Brother in Christ.
BROTHER JAMES UMUNNA.


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