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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: "FRED DOUGLAS" <legaldept_citybank@msn.com>
Reply-To: mr_joewilliams2000@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 23:50:14 +0000
Subject: Congratulations in advance...

From the Desk Of:

FRED DOUGLAS,

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF FUNDS DEPOSITED
IN YOUR NAME AND IT
IS NOT A SALES SOLICITATION.
Greetings my dear good friend,

I am FRED DOUGLAS from City bank Nigeria.The mentioned bank is known for
the safekeeping of special and valuable packages and baggage in trust for
reputable clients that are honest and trustworthy. We work in collaboration
with top firms and Governments of various countries
as we have earned a name as a service whose hallmarks in reliability and
confidentiality are revered.
International missions and Embassies of the world have used our services to
satisfaction.

A benefactor whose identity can not be disclosed because of the Non
Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement that was signed with the said
benefactor when the funds were being deposited in the Citi Bank of Nigeria,
made you the beneficiary of a package containing some amount of money and
stated clearly that you should only be contacted when the time signed for it
to be in our care elapses and the time has already elapsed that is why you
are being contacted.

The Non Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement signed with the
benefactor mandates us to fully divulge and disclose the benefactor's
identity 18 months after you, the beneficiary has received the funds. The
funds totals $5.000,000 (Five Million Dollars) i shall reconfirm to you are
fully free of any liens, or encumbrances and are clean, clear and
non-criminal origin and are available in the form of CASH.

You are hereby advised to reconfirm your Full Contact Information for
verification with information contained in our computer database as well as
other relevant information in the format stated below so that the fund would
be arranged by the deplomats who will be moving the funds from the City
bank of Nigeria to be brought to you.

I would also inform you clearly here that you must procure an affidavit of
claim of ownership before the comensment of the deplomat bringing the funds
to you, this you will be informed as soon as your information is received.

The Diplomats shall accompany you to your bank (if you want them to) to
deposit the funds in your name and submit all documentations of proof of the
origin of the funds in other to exonerate you from any form of
investigations or interrogation and to authenticate the fact that the funds
are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or terrorism.

The Requested Information is to ensure that no mistake or error is made and
it should be forwarded in the manner stated below:

Your Full Name: ______________________________


Your Complete Address (Physical Address with Zip Code not
P.O.BOX) : ______________________________


Name of City of Residence: ____________________


Name of Closest Airport to City of Residence:___________________________


Direct Telephone Number:____________________________________


Mobile Number:_______________________________________________


Fax Number:______________________________________________________


Finally your age and sex very impotant too please note this.The Contact
Numbers are very necessary because the number would be called before the
ensure that the package is handed over to the right person. So, it is
mandatory you send your Direct Telephone Number preferably your Mobile or
Cell Phone Number.

Complete the above and send back to me through my private E-mail address
below as soon as possible.

Congratulations in advance.
YOURS SINCERELY,

MR FRED DOUGLAS,
(Citi bank Nigeria )
                                               Private and Confidencial...

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