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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: "IBRAHEM MUHAMMED" <i_muhammed950@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: i_muhammed950@fsmail.net
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 08:57:23 +0000
Subject: KINDLY RESPONSE ASAP

Dear Sir/Madam,

Top of the day to you,this letter may come to you as a surprise due to the
fact that we have not met. I have to say hear that i have no intension of
coursing you any pain whatsoever,but to solicit for your assistance .
Please note that I am not asking for any money to be given to me from you.

I am in dire need of your assistance,I hope you can be of help. I have some
money coming to me from some business associates. I do not have an account
in the US, or Europe and therefore need your help to deposit this checks
into you bank account. My name is Ibrahem Muhammed , I am a director in the
presidency Villa in Nigeria.
These are money coming to me from companies I have helped to secure
contracts from the government and have also assisted to get paid on time for
the jobs completed.
They are suppose to pay me for the assistance rendered in other to help them
secure other jobs and further payments from the government. Unfortunately, I
do not have a foreign account in US dollars to accomodate this payments to
me from this associate companies. I therefore, implore you to assist me in
paying this checks into your account for a certain percentage of the amount
as commission. For this services, I propose a 20% commission to you .
Kindly let me know if you can be of assistance to me, Please note that I am
not asking for any money to be given to me from you. I am only asking for
you to help pay some checks into your account. The account could be in a
personal name or a company's account. As soon as you indicate your
willingness and ability to help me, I will instruct my associates to issue
the checks in your name.
Due to the sensitive position I hold in the government, kindly treat with
extreme confidentiality.

Kindly reply with your Name,address,phone numbers and your age
I sincerely pray and hope that you can help me. I look forward to your
urgent attention.
Best Regards.
IBRAHEM .


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