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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: "mark luke" <markluke100411@msn.com>
Reply-To: mark_luke@outgun.com
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 13:26:02 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED.

MR MARK LUKE
DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATION,
UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC,
MARINA-LAGOS,
NIGERIA.

I AM SEEKING FOR YOUR COOPERATION TO PRESENT YOU TO MY BANk AS THE
NEXT OF KIN TO MR RICHARD PETERSON, A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR WITH
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM COOPERATION (NNPC): SO THAT THE SUM OF
USD$26.8MILLION WILL BE PAY TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY. FOR YOUR
INFORMATION,

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT WITH UNION BANK OF
NIGERIA PLC.THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF UNION BANK OF NIG.PLC,
MANDATED ME TO LOOK FOR ANY KNOWN RELATION OF MR RICHARD
PETERSON,SINCE, AFTER HIS DEATH 5/1/03, HOWEVER ALL MY EFFORTS
TRACES ABORTIVE,THAT IS THE MAIN REASON I AM WRITING YOU THIS TO
ASK FOR YOUR COOPEARATION FOR US TO CLAIM THIS MONEY, SINCE YOU ARE
A FOREIGNER.I ONLY HAVE TO APPROVE YOU, THIS FUND WILL BE PAY TO
YOU AS THE BENEFICIARYWE ARE TO SHARE THIS MONEY BETWEEN OURSELVES
(I AND YOU) IF YOU ARE REALY INTERESTED IN THIS OFFER YOU SHOULD
CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.

FOR DETAIL OF THIS TRANSACTION AND PRECEDURE. PLS DO FORWARD ME
YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE AND FAX NUMBER, YOUR COMPANY NAME OR
OCCUPATION THESE INFO ARE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.
NOTE THAT THIS IS RISK FREE BUSINESS, THIS TRANSACTION WILL
COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY THERE IS INTEREST FROM YOU.

YOURS TRUELY

MR MARK LUKE


Anti-fraud resources: