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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: "james irabo" <jirabo771@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jamesirabo@sify.com
Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 06:44:48 +0000
Subject: MY INTRODUCTION !!!


FROM: James Irabo,
Please reply to : jamesirabo@sify.com

Dear sir,

I am James Irabo from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc,Lagos Branch I got your
contact through the internet.I have urgent and very confidential business
proposal for you.

On June 6, 1999, an America Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation,Mr. Charles Ballassi made a numbered
time(fixed)deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$9,700,000.00
(Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ) in my branch upon maturity. I
sent a rountine notification to his forwarding address but got no
reply.After a month,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers,the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.
Charles Ballassi died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999 [with Egyptian
990] with other passengers aboard .


on further investigation, i found out that he died without making a WILL,
and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassi did not
declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,including
his bank deposit paperwork in my bank.

This sum of US$9,700,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever
come forward to claimit.According to Nigerian law, at the expiration
of(six)years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as a foreigner to stand as
the next of kin to Mr. Charles Ballassi so that the fruit of this old man's
labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt Government officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name and
address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ
the service of two attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL
and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in
your favour for the transfer. Any bank account in any part of the world
which you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to
you as the beneficiary/next of kin.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 60% for
me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all, the paperwork for this
transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch
Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via private email address ,upon your
responce,i shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that
will help you understand the transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because i shall require
your assitance to invest my share in your country.

Please upon the reciept of this mail message, send to me the following to
enable me start the process of the fund into your bank account:

1. Your full Name and address
2. The name of your bank and address where you want the
fund to be transfered into
3. Your account number.
4. Your account name ( Beneficiary Name.)
5. Your private Telephone and fax numbers
6. Your age
7. Your occupation.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email: jamesirabo@sify.com

Thanks and regards,

James Irabo.
Please reply to : jamesirabo@sify.com
MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIG PLC


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