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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "alex ugo" <alexugo1115@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: alexugoh01@compaqnet.fr
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:07:12 +0000
Subject: GULF BANK OF NIGERIA PLC

GULF BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
P.M.B: 1 2 3 9 1
Ref No: GUL/102/124/2004
Telegrams: GULF BANK
Attn: Dear Sir
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

A foreigner, an American, late Engr. John waley (Snr) an oil merchant with
the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his death years ago in Kenya AirBus
(A310 - 300) Flight KQ430, Banked with us at Gulf Bank Nigeria Plc,Lagos and
has a closing balance as at the end of Sept. 2000 worth US$66.5M(sixty-six
million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), the bank now expects a
next of kin as a beneficiary. Valuable efforts are being made by the Gulf
Bank of Nigeria to get in touch with any of the Waley's family or relatives
but to no success. It is because of the perceived possibility of not being
able to locate any of the late Engr. John waley (Snr). Next of kin (He had
no wife or children that is known to us]. The management under the influence
of our chairman and members of the board of directors that arrangement has
been made for the fund to be declared Unclaimed and subsequently be donated
to the trust fund for arms and ammunition to further enhance the course of
war in Africa and the world in general. In order to avert this negative
development, some of my trusted colleagues and I now seek your permission to
have you stand as next of kin to late Engr.John waley (Snr) so that the fund
US$66.5 million will be released and paid into your account as the
beneficiary's next of kin. All documents and provesto enable you get this
fund will be carefully worked out. We have secured from the probate an order
of madamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiary's,and more so we are
assuring you businesses 100%riskfree involvement. Your share stays while the
rest be for myself and my colleagues for investment purpose, according to
agreement within both parties. As soon as we receive an acknowledgement of
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business proposal, we
would furnish you with the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to
suite both parties without any conflict. If this proposal is acceptable by
you, do not make undue advantage of the trust we have bestowed in you.
Please you can reach me with the above email for security reason.

Regards

Alex Ugo


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