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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Salisu Ibrahim <rocketreason@msn.com>
Reply-To: <salisuibrahimnig@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:08:07 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend





Dear Friend

Naturally, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not met,permit me however,I am writing you to earnestly Solicit for your assistance in helping to receive some sum of money.

I got your e-mail address through an internet marketing firm while searching for a reliable and reputable person to handle this transaction. My name is Mr Salisu Ibrahim the present permanents secretary of ministry power and steel Federal Republic of Nigeria, after my resumption in office, I discover that during the past leadership of our former civilian head of state Olusegun Obansanjo, contract of sixteen billion dollars (16 billion dollars) was awarded to foreign contractors to improve power supply in the energy sector in Nigeria, and the contractors companies were not registered and they were non existing companies, so money was disbursed to different account abroad.The present elected president, Alhaji Musa Yar adua have ask the lower house of the cabinet to set up committee to help probe and recover some of the money.

During my investigation I recover a file in my office containing information of payment that was transfer to abroad, to the tune of seventy million million dollars($70,000,000.00) by the former secretary who is late.since the past leadership are under probe of the sixteen billion dollars contract scam no body knows of this payment since the former secretary and minister dead in belview air crash, the file was abandon and forgotten by the last administration, so I have to keep the file secretly with other valuable documents, that can aid any body in claiming the funds as a the beneficiary, I have to keep this as a secret to my self since the former secretary is dead.

So I need a reliable and trust worthy partner that can help in claiming the fund from the bank as the beneficiary of the fund, I have all particulars that will aid in claiming the money easily. because as an active member of the government am not entitle to own such money in my account and also to own a foreign account abroad is not allowed. I need a partner that will be able to invest the money until I resign my appointment with the government of my country.

As soon as you are able to claim the funds you will get 40% of the total sum while we set 10% aside for running of all expenses, I get the remain 50% which you will assist me in investing in your country.

Disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this Proposition I have offered you. Thank you very
much for your time.
I wait anxiously for your response.

Yours faithfully,

Saliu Ibrahim.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam