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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Olufemi PEDRO" <olufemipedro@msn.com>
Reply-To: olufemi_pedro1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 01:17:08 +0000
Subject: Hello Dear friend,

FROM: MR OLUFEMI PEDRO
AFRICAN CONTINENTAL BANK PLC.
106/108 BROAD STREET LAGOS,
NIGERIA.


Hello Dear friend,


Firstly, I'm soliciting your utmost confidentiality in this Transaction. I
am Mr Olufemi Pedro, credit officer with African
Continental Bank of Nigeria PLC, Lagos. I came to you in my private search
for a reliable person to handle this confidential transaction, which
involves
huge sum of money to your country.
The Proposition: A foreigner an American, late Mr. Morris Thompson and his
Thelma Thompson and their only child Sheryl Thompson.
Who died on January 31, 2000 on board Alaska Airlines Flight 261. Alongside
85 other passengers a vacation. Please view the website below for
verification.


http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list

while returning to his country from a business trip. He Banked with us at
ACB BANK of Nigeria plc Lagos and had a closing balance worth
US$20.5Million, having heard of the tragic incident involving late Mr.
Morris Thompson the bank now Expects a next of kin as a
beneficiary. Valuable efforts have been made by African Continental Bank to
get in touch with any of his family's but I personally found out that hedied
alongside his wife and their only child. Meanwhile this is the website of
the people that died in the Alaska Airlines Flight 261, the only next of kin
given to us by late Mr. Morris Thompson was his only daughter which
unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and this is
unknown to the bank. I'm taking this advantage in order to better my life
and that of my family; I now decided to seek your permission to have you
stand as the next of kin to late Mr. Morris Thompson, so that the fund
(US$20.5M) will be released into your account as the next of kin.

All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully
worked out, by the lawyer that I will employ to work with me down here on
your behalf. I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is
100% legal and risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest will
be for me. The sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows:
30% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the
success of this transaction. 65% will be for us here. While 5% as been set
aside for expenses incurred in due process of this transaction. As soon as I
receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I
will
immediately start up with the process. If this proposal is acceptable by
you, kindly forward to me your private telephone and fax numbers -
preferably your mobile numbers, address.
As soon as I observe this information, I will draft a text of application
which you will fill the information and send it to the bank for onward
Transfer of the fund in your favor.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated
cooperation.

Yours faithfully,

MR. Olufemi Pedro
(Credit Officer, ACB PLC (Nigeria)


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