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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: "osman tayub" <otayub@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: osmantayubjnr@yahoo.com.au
Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 22:38:25 +0000
Subject: TRUSTEE.

SIR/MA,

PLEASE REFER YOUR ACCEPTANCE MAIL FOR QUICK ATTENTION ON THIS ADDRESS:
otayub2000@yahoo.com

MY NAME IS MR. OSMAN TAYUB. I WORK WITH THE INLAND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC AS A
GROUP HEAD TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTY, I STUMBLED ON THIS DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT THAT HAS
REMAINED DORMANT FOR SIX MONTHS NOW WITH TWENTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($20.5M) IN IT. ON PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, I
DISCOVERED THAT THE ACCOUNT HOLDER DIED IN AUTOCRASH ACCIDENT WITH THE
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE AMOUNT.

I AM WRITING YOU SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO REMIT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN HENCE THE DEPOSITOR HAPPENED TO BE A
FOREIGNER.
IT IS SIMPLE PROCESS WHICH WILL TAKE A SHORT WHILE TO PROCESS. OUTSIDE THIS,
THE BANK MANAGEMENT WILL CONFISCATE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AS UNCLEARED
EFFECTS AND SEND BACK TO THE NIGERIAN DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION ACCOUNT.

IF I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONEY AND
THE OPERATIONAL METHOD WE CAN USE TO EFFECT THE REMITANCE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT
FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
BEST REGARDS,
OSMAN TAYUB


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