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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: "martin kelvin" <martins_ck54@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 16:16:24 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED

ATTN: READ CAREFULLY.

Compliments of the season.I have to start by introducing myself to you.
I am Martin Kelvin,the Head of Delegation to the WorldBank in
West Africa.I am the linkman between the Organization For Petroleum
Exporting Countries -OPEC and the petroleum sector in a West African
country.I also attend OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva on the
auspicies of World Bank,I am 54 years of age and with 26 years
experience.

I got your contact on the internet and wants to contact you for your
assistance in transaction which invovle the transfer of money to an
account.Sincerely, i want us to discuss about this transaction as
partners because it involves a certain amount which the code of
conduct beareau forbids me to posses based on my position as a
public servant in my country.

Once your interest is indicated in a return mail,I can proceed to give you
the
necassary information that are needed in this transaction.


Finally, do not reply to this mail if the contents does not apply to you.


Thank you for an anticipated co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Martin Kelvin.

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