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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: "Medani Babatunde" <medanibabs2000@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:59:40 +0000
Subject: URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

Dear Friend,

URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

Although this proposal might come to you as a surprise, since it is from
someone you do not know or have seen before, but based on recommendations, l
gathered from a very reliable source.

I am the director, fund co-ordinator of the Finance Contract Department of
Nigerian Ports Authority
The crux of this letter is that the finance/contract department of the NPA
deliberatly over-inflated the contract values of various contract awarded.

In the course of disbursement my office was able to track down the sum of
US$23.5M(Twenty ThreeMillion, Five Hundred Thousand U.S dollars) as the over
invoiced sum. This money is now floating in the NPA domicilliary account
with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). I and my colleagues now want to
quickly transfer this fund to a safe nominated foreign account for possible
investment abroad.

We are not allowed as a matter of government policy to operate any foreign
account because of our status as civil/public servants. Hence the need to
solicit for your full banking details, to enable us transfer this money into
your account.

Upon your acceptance of this proposal, we have also agreed on a sharing
ratio:-
1) 30%for you as the account owner
2) 60% for l and my colleagues
3) 10% will be set aside to defray all incidental expenses both locally and
internationally during the course of this transaction.

Furthermore, we shall be coming over to your country when the money is
finally in your account and we shall be relying on your advise as regards to
investment of our share . Be informed that, this business is genuine and
100% safe considering the high powered government officials involved.

Send the following information:-
1) YOUR COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS, BANK NAME, ADDRESS AND ACCOUNT NUMBER
2) YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

This is to effect the Swift Transfer of this fund into your account in less
than Seven ( 7) working days.

Contact me strictly on email babatunde@movemail.com, while looking forward
to a healthy business relationship with you.

Sincerely,

Mr.Medani Babatunde


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