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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: kola raymond <kol_raymon32@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:20:49 -0400
Subject: HI



Mr. Kola Raymond.
Lagos-Nigeria. Dear Friend, I am Mr. Kola Raymond. a Banker/Supervisor with a Bank in Lagos, Nigeria. Name: {Withheld for security reason}. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.On June 6, 2002, a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation, Mr. Martin Skitkov made a numbered Tim (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$32,500,000.00 (Thirty Two Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in our branch. Upon maturity and since I was his personal banker, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, I sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his Contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation {NNPC} that Mr. Martin Skitkov died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Martin Skitkov did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in our Bank.This sum of US$32,500,000.00 is still in our bank vault. No one has ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to Stand in as the NEXT OF KIN to Mr. Martin skitkov {Now Late}, I will prepare all the documents with the help of an attorney on your name and present you as the NEXT OF KIN to our Bank Directors and will stand and defend your authenticity . I am writing you because I as a public servant can not operate a Foreign account or have an account that is more than $1m. All these are to make sure that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials or our Bank Directors.The money will be moved out into your designated account particulars for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 25% for you and 5% will take care of all expenses. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by an Attorney and this will guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via me immediately .upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
Please observe with utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Thanks and regards. Mr. Kola Raymond.
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