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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: james berry <jamesberrylaw3@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:34:44 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!






DEAR SIR-MADAM,

ATTN:REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. I AM A HIGH PLACED OFFICIAL WORKING WITH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, HERE IN DAKAR, SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA. MY DEPARTMENT (THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT) RUNS INTO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MONTHLY.

MYSELF AND THREE OTHER COLLEAGUES IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF A FOREIGN PARTNER WHOSE BANK ACCOUNT WE CAN USE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF TWELVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS (US$12,500,000.00). THIS FUND ACCRUED LEGITIMATELY (BUT DISCRETELY) TO US AS COMMISSION FROM FOREIGN CONTRACTS, THROUGH OUR PRIVATE CONNECTIONS. THE FUND IS PRESENTLY WAITING TO BE REMITTED BY OUR OFFSHORE FUNDS MANAGERS TO ANY FOREIGN BENEFICIARY SUBMITTED BY US TO THEM AS THE RECEIVER OF THE FUND.

HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF OUR POSITIONS AS CIVIL SERVANTS IN OUR COUNTRY, WE CANNOT ACQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAMES. BECAUSE AS HIGH PLACED CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE CODE OF CONDUCT TO OWN OR OPERATE BANK ACCOUNTS OUTSIDE OF OUR SHORES. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR US TO KEEP THE MONEY HERE DUE TO OUR UNSTABLE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
I HAVE BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES, TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEAS PARTNER IN WHOSE ACCOUNT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE US$12,500,000.00 FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT, HENCE THE REASON FOR THIS EMAIL.
WHAT I AM REQUESTING FROM YOU IS:

(1) TO BE OUR PARTNER AND RECEIVE THE FUNDS IN YOUR ACCOUNT IN TRUST.

(2) PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT UNDER YOUR CONTROL TO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE REMITTED.

(3) RECEIVE THE FUNDS IN YOUR ACCOUNT, TAKE OUT YOUR COMMISSION AND KEEP THE REST OF THE MONEY UNTIL I ARRIVE THERE TO MEET YOU AFTER THE TRANSFER IS COMPLETED.

OUR PROPOSAL IS THAT AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE FUNDS, IT WOULD BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: (1) 20% TO YOU AS COMMISSION, WHILE THE REMAINING 80% BELONGS TO MYSELF AND THE TWO COLLEAGUES HERE. YOU WILL BE FREE TO TAKE OUT YOUR COMMISSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FUNDS HIT YOUR ACCOUNT. SINCE OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO INVEST THE MONEY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN ALSO HELP US TO INVEST OUR OWN MONEY INTO PROFITABLE VENTURES IN YOUR COUNTRY.

HOWEVER, THIS IS OPTIONAL, AND SHOULD IT NOT BE CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO FURTHER ASSIST US WITH INVESTING THE MONEY, WE CAN END OUR COOPERATION AFTER YOU HAND OVER TO US OUR PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY.
THE TRANSACTION, ALTHOUGH DISCRETE, IS LEGITIMATE AND THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH ALL NECESSARY BACK-UP DOCUMENTS SHOWING LEGITIMATE SOURCE/ORIGIN OF FUND. THE TRANSFER WILL BE EFFECTED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS AS SOON AS WE REACH AN AGREEMENT AND YOU FURNISH ME WITH A SUITABLE BANK ACCOUNT FOR RECEIVING THE MONEY.

I PLEAD WITH YOU ON ONE ISSUE, WHETHER YOU ARE INTERESTED OR NOT, KINDLY DO NOT EXPOSE THIS INFORMATION TO ANY ONE ELSE. I CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSACTION IS LEGITIMATE AND WITHOUT ANY RISKS EITHER TO OURSELVES OR YOURSELF.

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY BY RETURN MAIL.
WHILE KEEPING EVERYTHING CONFIDENTIAL.
YOURS FAITHFULLY ,

DR James Berrys Ogidi

DIRETOR/GENERAL




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