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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: "Ikobo Inc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ikobo_payout@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:53:45 -0800
Subject: DELIVERY

Our Ref: IKB/NGN/M2F01
Your Ref:

iKobo is a company that specializes in money transfers. With them, you can
send money to any country with your Visa or MasterCard. The recipient gets
the transfer put onto a secured Visa debit card which can be used
worldwide at ATM locations for cash withdrawals. This debit card, which is
reusable, is shipped to the recipient.
As part of our expansion and promotional package for the fiscal year 2009,
we are pleased to inform you that your parcel containing the sum of $2.8
Million US dollars which has been made available to you through an iKobo
Visa card.
We have concluded plans to deliver this card to you as soon as possible.
You are to send us the following details:

FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
SEX:
AGE:

You are also to immediately pay the delivery charges of US$120 immediately
so as to ensure prompt delivery.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Copyright©2001-2009 iKobo, Inc.
https://www.ikobo.com

Anti-fraud resources: