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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: "PERSONAL CONTACT" <pcontact55@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 19:42:23 -0100
Subject: YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE URGENTLY NEEDED.


Dear good friend,

I am writing this with due respect and honor, believing that you will give
my request proper and urgent attention. There is going to be great doubt and
distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that,
so many miscreants have taken possession of the internet to facilitate their
nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and
legitimate internet business/contacts to get attention and recognition.

I am Dr. Oburu Oginga. Kenyan assistance finance minister. I am writing
this email and living with great fear in my mind due to attack to my life on
the very Friday night of 25th July 2008 (
http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/). Five unknown gunmen
attacked me in front of my house, while we were waiting for our house gate
to be opened. This attack, which leads to my driver slashed dead, has grated
lot of fear i my mind in respect of the safety of my entire family. For that
reason and otherwise, I have decided to send my family abroad for safety,
and that is the reason for this contact to you.

I want to know if you can assist me to buy a comfortable family house in
your country where my family would reside and to receive them on arrival in
your country, also to assist them to establish a profitable business when
they must have settle down. I have substantial amount of money, which would
be send direct to you via a security and finance company to enable you to
commence action on this project without delay. I will really appreciate
your kind and urgent assistant, as i will compensate you based on the
terms, which we may finally agreed upon.

Finally, i believe that this proposal would be acceptable to you and hope
that you will treat this matter with sincerity, trust, confidentiality and
compassion. You can confirm your complete address, full name and private
telephone lines urgently through this email address:
personalcontact@sify.com note that this business has no risk or any legal
implications of whatsoever. I appreciate your humble attention as you go
through this email. For security reasons, I prefer to be communicating with
you through email, but will introduce you to my lawyer for effective
telephone communication once I confirm your sincerity to assist.

I look forward to receive your question in order to clarify issue as
It may be bothering your mind.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Oburu Oginga.

Anti-fraud resources: