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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: "micheal akpoto" <makpoto2@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:25:58 -0800
Subject: please reach me




Dear Friend,
I write to inform you of my desire to acquire estates or landed
properties in your country on behalf of a Director in the Department of Transport in my country,Nigeria.Considering his very strategic and influential position, he wants the transaction to be strictly confidential as much as possible.
He further wants his identity to remain undisclosed at least for now, until the completion of transaction. Hence our desire to have an overseas agent. I have therefore been directed to inquire if you would agree to act as our overseas agent in order to actualize this transaction.
The deal in brief is that the funds with which we intend to carry out our proposed investments in your country is presently in a coded account at the Apex Bank and we need your assistance to transfer the funds to your country with your assistance,in a convenient bank account that will be provided by you before we can put the funds into use in your country. For this, you shall be considered to have executed a contract for the Department of Transport for which payment should be effected to you by the Ministry, The contract sum of which shall run into US$10.5Million (Ten Million, Five Hundred thousand United States Dollars) of which your share shall be 10% if you agree to be our overseas agent.
As soon as payment is effected, and the amount mentioned above is
successfully transfered into your account, we intend to use our own share in acquiring some estates and setting up trust accounts abroad.
For this too you shall also serve as our agent. In the light of the
above, I would like you to forward to me the following nformation's:
1. Your company name and address if any.
2. Your personal fax number.
3. Your personal telephone number for easy communication.
You are requested to communicate your acceptance of this proposal
through the following email address makpoto2@yahoo.com , After
which we shall discuss in details the modalities for seeing this
transaction through.
Your quick response will be highly appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation of your cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Micheal Akpoto


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