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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: Bob Ferg <bobferg@ymail.com>
Reply-To: bobb.ferg@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:10:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: bobferg@ymail.com



- Bob Ferg Bill And Exchange of the remittance department,Citizens International Bank.Plot 119 Adeola Odeku street,Victoria Island,Lagos Nigeria.LETTER OF MUTUAL BENEFIT.Dear Respectable One,I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral beliefs and ethics,which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life,But please treat with absolute secrecy and let it be personal.I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health.My name is Bob Ferg,I work with the Citizens Int'l Bank bill and exchange of the foreign remittance department.I am the personal Accountant to late Engr.(Allan)a National of your country,who was a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS.Here in after shall be referred to as my client On 30 JANUARY 2000, my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the Kenya airways flight with registration number 5Y-BEN which departed from Nairobi to destination Lagos and the all family died in this fatal air crash on 30 JANUARY 2000 Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to get in touch with the consul-General of your Embassy,to locate any member of my late client family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged,particularly the CITIZENS INT'L BANK Where the deceased had an account Valued at ($15 Million us dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin.Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.On further investigation,I found out that:-(A) He has no other living declared relative(B) He had died intestate (without making a will)(c) He was into Real Estate Venture (Realtor)Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives till date, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($15 Million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.50% to me and 50% to you and all expenses will be shared equally after tax is deducted by the (IRS) in your country.On your soonest reply,I will tell you all you need to know about the money and method of operation we can use to effect remittance into your account for our mutual benefit.Also include your full name,address and phone number.I recommend that you send your response together with your most private telephone number to enable me call you for more explanation if the need arises.Yours sincerely,Bob Ferg.Phone:+234-1-8145312


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