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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: "Charles Brown" <charlesbrown_investment31@msn.com>
Reply-To: charlesbrown_contract2@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 04:34:11 +0000
Subject: INVESTMENT PLAN

From the Desk of
Mr. Charles Brown
Minister, Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Awolowo Road,
Lagos Nigeria.


RE: PAYMENT SOLUTION

Greetings,

I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of
this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed
on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a
respected and honest person to handle this project/transaction with
sincerity, trust and confidentiality.

Let me use this opportunity to introduce myself briefly to you. I am Mr.
Charles Brown , Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry Nigeria. My office
monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions in
my country concerned with foreign contract payments.

I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of funds moving
within banks both on the local and international levels in line to foreign
contracts settlement. I have before me, list of funds which could not be
transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been
identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits or over-invoiced sum
e.t.c.

Now listen carefully please. I write to present you to the federal
government that you are among the people expecting the funds to be
transferred into their accounts. On this note, I wish to have a deal with
you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds.

I have every file before me and the data’s will be changed into your name to
enable you receive the fund into your nominated account as the
contractor/beneficiary of the fund amount $7.5Million U.S.D.

It is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the
federal government treasury and reserve accounts as unclaimed deposits. I
have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received 2
days ago from the Senate Committee on Contract Payments to Foreign Debts to
submit the list of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of
revenues.

Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following my idea
that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.

MY CONDITIONS AS FOLLOWS.

1. You will give me and my colleagues 65% at of the total sum as soon as you
confirm the total fund in your designated account. 30% will be for you for
your effort while 5% should be set aside for any miscellaneous expenses.

2. This transaction must be kept highly secretive as I am still in service
to avoid public notice and all correspondence will be strictly by email for
security purposes. We will talk on phone partially if any warrant for that.

3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with your
fund release are caused by your agents or representative.

If you agree with my conditions, I will intimate you with the procedures to
enable me fix your name on the payment schedule instantly to meet the three
days mandate.

I hope you don't reject this offer as this great opportunity comes but once
in one’s entire life.

Conclusively, I look forward to hearing from you soonest.


Regards,
Charles Brown
Foreign Affairs Minister.
Please, get back to me through upon your satisfaction with my proposal.


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