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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: MIKE FASHOLA <mikefashola22@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:42:38 -0700
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF:MIKE FASHOLA

URGENT GREETINGS!
FROM THE DESK OF:MIKE FASHOLA
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC MARINA- BRANCH,
LAGOS.

TO: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

DEAR SIR,

RE:TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF US$5.5M DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT,FIRST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION.THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF IT'S NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET.THOUGH I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED. BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU THROUGH THIS MEDIUM DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THIS TRANSACTION AS WE HAVE BEEN RELIABLY INFORMED OF YOUR DISCRETENESS AND ABILITY. LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO
YOU.

I AM MIKE FASHOLA, A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. MARINA BRANCH OFFICE LAGOS.I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT YOU IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION AS WE ARE STILL IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
THE PROPOSITION. AN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL,LATE ENGINEER BUTCH R.MIGUEL,AN OIL MERCHANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, UNTIL HIS DEATH THREE YEARS AGO IN A GHASTY AIR CRASH IN AN EGYPTIAN AIRLINE,BANKED WITH US HERE AT UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.

MARINA BRANCH LAGOS,AND HAD A CLOSSING BALANCE OF US$5.5M (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS)WHICH THE BANK UNQUESTIONABLY EXPECTS IT TO BE CLAIMED BY ANY AVAILABLE FOREIGN NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE LATE BENEFICIARY OR ALTERNATIVELY BE DONATED TO A DISCREDITED TRUST FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS AT THE MILITARY WAR COLLEGE IN KADUNA STATE HERE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. SEQUEL TO THIS,FERVENT VALUABLE EFFORTS WERE MADE BY UNION BANK PLC.
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE MIGUEL'S FAMILY OR RELATIVES BUT PROVED TO NO AVAIL.IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED POSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE ANY OF THE LATE ENGR.BUTCH R. MIGUEL'S [NEXT-OF-KIN] HE HAS NO NO WIFE NOR CHILDREN) THAT THE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OUR
HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,(Retired)MAJOR-GENERAL KALU UKE KALU THAT AN ARRANGEMENT BE MADE FOR THE FUND TO BE DECLARED UN-CLAIMABLE" AND SUBSIQUENTLY BE DONATED TO THE TRUST FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITON TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE COURSE OF WAR IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD IN GENERAL.

IN ORDER TO AVERT THIS CRUDE AND NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT,SOME OF MY TRUSTED COLLEAGUES AND I NOW SEEK YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE YOU STAND AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO LATE ENGR. BUTCH R.MIGUEL, SO THAT THE FUND US$5.5M WOULD BE RELEASED AND PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE BENEFICIARY'S NEXT-OF-KIN. ALL DOCUMENTSAND PROVES TOENABLE YOU RECIEVE THIS FUNDWILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT AND MORESO AS PROFESSIONAL BANKERS, WE ARE ASSURING YOU OF 100% RISK-FREE INVOLVEMENT. YOUR SHARE STAYS WHILE THE REST WILL BE FOR MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES IN YOUR COUNTRY.

IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ALRIGHT BY YOU,THEN KINDLY GET TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATON OF YOUR CO-OPERATION.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MIKE FASHOLA
(Senior Accountant)
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.


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