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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: serah ikea7 <serahikea7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <serahike11@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:42:27 +0000
Subject: From: Mrs Serah Ike



From: Mrs Serah IkeFederal Ministry Of Finance5th Floor, Annex 3,New Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Central AreaAbuja Nigeria.FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTER.Dear Friend,
My name is Mrs Serah Ike I'm the personal secretary to the new Minister of Finance, I'm directed to contact you by the Minister to urgently confirm from you if actually you know one Peter Woo who claim to be your business Associate/ Partner in Nigeria .The said Mr. Peter Woo is claiming to us that you are dead and he will like to change all the Informations that you gave to us as the legal bonafide beneficiary.This development is coming now that the Ministry want to off-set all your outstanding payments to all our legal foreign beneficiaries arround the world in your payment file was affected. As you may known, the total amount i n your favour is a total sum of $30Million Dollars.
We need to confirm from you if it's really true that you are dead and If we did not hear from you it automatically means that you are actually dead and the information passed to us by Mr. Peter Woo is correct.You are to contact me through my email address as soon as you receive this message so as to know the true position of things with you so that we wont make any mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.
Your swift response will help this ministry alot.Do email me with your full names and direct phone number for an easy communication, your age and occupation to this effect. Finally send you urgent response.
Your Full Name: ___________________________Your Complete Address:_____________________________Name of City of Residence: ____________________Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year):____________________Direct Telephone Number:_____ ________________mobile ____________________________Number:_______________________________________Fax Number:____________________________________Best Regards.Mrs Serah IkeSecretary for:Federal Minister Finance(FMF).
_________________________________________________________________
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