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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:03:42 +0100
Subject: Hello Friend,




PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX{richardokoli88@yahoo.com}



Hello Friend,

I am Barrister Richard Okoli, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attor=
ney to Mr. Michael Ginger, a national of your country, who used to work w=
ith shell development company in Nigeria and as well a one time secret ag=
ent in transferring of money overseas for the Late head of state of Niger=
ia {Late Gen.SANI ABACHA}.

Before his death On the 21st of April 1999 [my client, his wife and their=
three cildren were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road=
in which all the occupants of vehicle die}. My client deposited as famil=
y belongings in a CONSIGNMENT {iejewelries} valued the sum of US$8.5m in =
ETB Bank Plc, Lagos-Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it=
to his country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I have made se=
veral enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended rela=
tives but this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last na=
me over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacte=
d you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and prope=
rty left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unse=
rviceable by the Bank where these Consignment (Money) were Deposited. Par=
ticularly, the ETB Bank Plc, where the deceased Deposited the Consignment=
valued at about Thrity-Two million, Five Hundred Thousand United States =
Dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the next=
ten official working days.=20
=C2=A0=20
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over four ye=
ars now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the dec=
eased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this Cons=
ignments-(Money) valued at US$8.5m can be claimed by you and shared betwe=
en us in the ratio of 40% to me and 60% to you.=C2=A0 I have all necessar=
y legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All =
I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this dealt through=
. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement t=
hat will protect you from any breach of the law.=20

Note that it does not necessarily matter, whether you are biologically re=
lated to the deceased or not. The fact that your name has something to do=
with his, is an express ticket to your assuming the kinship to the decea=
sed. As you can bear with me, a next of kin to one, may be a Parent, Sist=
er, Brother, Close Relative, Associate, Friend or even a Well-wisher. So,=
whether you are related to him or not is never a barrier to your kinship=
in the transaction.=C2=A0=20

All the papers relating to this claim will be processed in your name upon=
your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, Please forward the fol=
lowing details to me .

[1] Full Names:
[2] Contact address:=20
[3] Direct Telephone No:
=C2=A0
With best regards,=20
=C2=A0
Barrister Richard Okoli (Esq).=20
=C2=A0






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