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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: "ROSE OBASEKI" <roselineobaseki11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rose7@mails.de
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:53:33 -0400
Subject: HELLO DEAR

Mrs.Roseline Obaseki
Flat 8 Block 12 NNPC Quarters
Garki Abuja Nigeria.
 
Hello Dear ,
 
I presume this letter will come to you as a surprise, but as things  unfold, we will know each other better. I will start by introducing myself to you.
 I am Mrs.Roseline Obaseki , the wife of Chief Jackson  Gaius Obaseki,the recently retired Managing Director, and Chief  Executive, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation  (NNPC). I am really sure that you will be of a good assistance  after going thoroughly through this letter.
For many years of marriage now between me and my husband, I have  not given birth, and this has really troubled my husband. As a result of the respect given to local tradition ure and custom here in Nigeria, my husband has decided to break the marriage and I have divorced from him. As at now,I am no longer Assured of a  matrimonial home, hence I seek your  urgent assistance and help which I know will go a long way in getting me settled finally.
 I want to use this opportunity to  move the sum of (US$18M) into your custody for safe keeping,  pending my arrival in your country. This said amount was given to my husband as gratification from some Foreign Oil Companies he helped in getting Allocation for the Drilling of
Crude Oil in Nigeria.
As a civil servant, he does not want to be exposed, hence  he gave me this money to keep so that he can be exonerated from the  eyes of government security  operatives in Nigeria.
I contacted my direct sister who introduced an idea for me  which I followed.The money was then neatly packed in four boxes and tagged as Diplomatic Documents and  film materials(PERSONAL EFFECTS).I then deposited the boxes for  save keeping in a security/finance company in Nigeria on January  3rd 2000. The security company do not know that the four boxes  contains money This was done for my personal security reasons.
The  deposit paper reads: four trunk boxes  containing film materials and diplomatic documents.Please take  proper note of this.Some top government officials in Nigeria use  this method to transfer money to their foreign partners outside  the country for confidential reasons.
The little money I use for personal expenses here has finished that is why I needed your assistance to process the release of the boxes from the security company where it was deposited.  I want these boxes to taken out of the security company to  your destination so that I can be able to open the boxes and  retreive the money for my expenses and  to arrange myself for business investment.
Please hasten up and help  me to recieve these boxes. Be informed that this money is not connected with drugs; money laundry,  firearms and looting which I believe will put fears in you  to render the required assistance needed from you and consequently withdrawing your help  for security reasons.
 Hence the source of this said money is clean  and clear, Rather,to help me,kindly prepare your mind so that I  can direct you to the Security Company where the boxes were  deposited for the necessary release to your destination on my  behalf under diplomatic immunity.During your contact with the  Security Company,tell them that you are my business associate and  that I instructed that the boxes I deposited  with them be sent to your address. Be rest assured that this  transaction is 100% risk free, and my husband  will not raise any alarm because the deposite documents was written  in my name and in my possession now.
As soon as this money is moved to you, and you confirm to  me that you have received it, I will be coming to meet you up there  in your country where I wish to live the rest of my life. I will be  offering you 30% of this money if you show your personal commitment in this transaction  and 2.5% of the money will be used to settle any personal expenses  that have been incured  along the line of the transaction and for all your help at this time of need. Be informed that this transaction will not last more  than 14 working days  and it will be concluded because every arrangement has been put in  place.
Your negative or positive response will be highly appreciated.
Yours faithfully, 
Mrs.Roseline Obaseki

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