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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: "JOHN AKUMA" <johnakuma4@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 09:12:45 +0100
Subject: Good News.


Dear Friend,

How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition.I am
using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished
transaction.I am the Barrister who contacted you long ago,for an Inheritance
claims,regards to my Late client, who made a huge deposit with one of the
Local Bank here in Benin Republic.

Due to logistic reasons and your inconsistance to the other best known to
you.
However I wish to inform you that I have successfully transfrred the said
fund through another partner who was capable of assisting me in this great
venture that have been over and successfull.Presently i am in United Emirate
for an Investment project.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at
the
course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $2.5 Million (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS)United State Of America Dollars.

Therefore you should contact the Foreign Operation Department with the First
Commercial Bank of Benin, with the following information stated below, in
order to receive the Total sum of $2.5 Million which i made for your
Compensation.However you should feel free to contact the First Commercial
Bank Management, as i have already passed instruction to them, therefore
they will attend to you without delay.

ATTN: Mr. Johnson Uwem, Foreign Operation Department.
First Commercial Bank of Benin
E-mail: firstcommercialbk@live.fr
Regards,

JOHN AKUMA.

Anti-fraud resources: