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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: <mike2009ng@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:04:44 +0100
Subject: letter


Dear Friend
It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive this unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many individuals have taken advantage of the Internet to facilitate their nefarious activities, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons to get attention and recognition. There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you.
I am MR IRAGBOR MIKE, an accountant with UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. The business I am about to introduce you is based on sheer trust and with a Sense of purpose. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the sum of $20.5M The money and property left behind by ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD who had an accident on the 21st of April 2001, ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD, his wife and their two Children were involved in a car accident in a remote village called Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. All occupants of the car unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy here in Lagos-Nigeria to locate any of ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD'S extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful even to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you as his account officer to work with you before they get his account confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC, where the deceased had an account valued at about (US$20.5M) Twenty Milliom, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. Now the management has issued a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account frozen. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20.5 M, can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.

60% to me and 35% to you, while 5% will be mapped out for any miscellaneous expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction. I have made an arrangement with an attorney who will work for us and secure all the necessary legal documents to back up this claim, and this I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in the wrong hands. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us secure all the legal documents and see this deal through. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.
If you are interested in this deal, kingly get back to me through email with your complete information as follows: Telephone and Fax numbers, your home address and Full name.
Best regards,
MR IRAGBOR MIKE


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