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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: "Senator William Owolabi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <owolabi.william@yandex.ru>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:04:38 -0000
Subject: SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT

RE:PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE/BLUE PRINT ON OUTRIGHT RECONCILIATION OF ALL CAPITAL AND OUTSTANDING CONTRACT DEBT DUELY OWED AND PAYABLE TO SHORT-LISTED FOREIGN CONTRACTORS.

Ref: FGN/PDRC/PRJ.VOL.01/09

ATTN: FUND OWNER.

SIR,

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE SENATE COMMITTEE IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE VEHEMENTLY REFUSED TO FOLLOW THE APPROVED AUTHORITY AND THIS HAS COST YOU LOST OF MONEY, TIME AND ENERGY WITHOUT ANY MEANINGFUL RESULT.YOUR FILE WAS SENT TO US THIS MORNING BY THE GOVERNOR OF CBN MR.SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI.

HAVING SAID THIS, WE HAVE FOR THE LAST TIME REQUIRED YOUR FULL ATTENTION TO THIS HONORABLE COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOB AND MAKE YOU SMILE BEFORE NEXT WEEKEND.

NOW, TO SAVE YOU FROM MORE HARDSHIP AND FURTHER ECONOMIC WASTE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF ACTIVITIES OF IMPOSTORS AND UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS AMONGST US, WE REQUIRE YOU TO COMPLY AND WORK WITH THIS HONORABLE COMMITTEE AND YOU WILL SMILE SOON.
HOWEVER, YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO THIS COMMITTEE IS TO DISCONTINUE ANY OTHER FORM OF CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION TO THOSE OFFICES YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE PAST SO THAT WE CAN CONCENTRATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING. YOUR NON-PAYMENT HAS CAUSED US SOME EMBARRASSMENTS AND THE FGN IS INTERESTED IN YOUR CASE HENCEFORTH SEEK THE SENATE FINAL ORDER.
THEREFORE, WE REQUIRE YOU TO DO THE NEEDFUL AND ALL WILL BE WELL. THE SENATE COMMITTEE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ASKING YOU FOR FEES AFTER FEES BUT WILL ONLY REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE IN OUR CHAMBERS TO ENDORSE THE 42 ORIGINAL HARD COPIES OF THE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT WHICH HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY ISSUED IN FAVOR OF YOUR PAYMENT.
NOTE, THESE ARE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA PAYMENT INSTRUMENT WHICH MUST BE ENDORSED PRIOR TO YOUR FUND RELEASE. ALSO, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED BY YOUR BANKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS FBI AND YOUR GOVERNMENT TO CLARIFY AND PROVE SOURCE OF FUND. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE AFTER 9/11, ALL HUGE AMOUNT WIRED CROSS-COUNTRY NEEDS SOME LEVEL OF PROVES TO SUBSTANTIATE ITS GENUINENESS OTHERWISE WILL BE TAGGED TERROR SPONSORSHIP, DRUG OR MONEY LAUNDERING RELATED FUNDING.
WE FINALLY REQUIRE YOU TO INFORM US IF YOU CAN COME TO ABUJA FOR THIS VITAL ENDORSEMENT EXERCISE OTHERWISE WE WILL COURIER THEM TO YOU FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT BUT IN THIS CASE,YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROCUREMENT,INSURANCE AND MAILING COST. OR WE CAN LINK YOU TO GOOD ATTORNEY THAT WILL SIGN ON YOUR BEHALF.
AWAITING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO ENABLE US PROCEED.BUT IS REST ASSURED THAT YOU WILL SMILE SOONEST AS THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND FOREIGN DEBT HAS TAKEN IT UPON US TO PAY YOU AFTER MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS.
KINDLY EMAIL US YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.

WE CONGRATULATE YOU IN ADVANCE ON THIS PAYMENT

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
FOR THE COMMITTEE
SENATOR WILLIAMS OWOLABI
CHAIRMAN SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT


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