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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: "Mr. Ola James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <olajames1603@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:56:30 -0000
Subject: In God we trust

Attention : Beneficiary,
 
Be informed that all the fees you are supposed to pay before receiving your contract/inheritance fund have been waived off. unless for your processing fee and we will transfer your contract/Inheritance fund to you immediately..
No other charges except the processing fee.
 
Your PASSCODE is: 999-035-2655 (Fund Transfer confirmation same day). You have no other payment to make except the processing fee. Your Payment Of ($5.5 Million) in addition with your accumulated interest will be through Electronic Telegraphic Transfer.
 
This is newly introduced system of payment by the Central  Bank of Nigeria to avoid experiences of incessant fraud, illegal extortion of money from beneficiaries and to enhance transparency.
 
WHEN YOUR FUNDS ARE TRANSMITTED, THE MANAGEMENT WILL INFORM YOU, AND YOU WILL APPLY THE PASSCODE AS DIRECTED AND INSTANTLY, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CREDITED AND YOU WILL MOVE TO YOUR BANK TO CONFIRM YOUR FUND.
 
You will only apply for the passcode when you have paid your processing fee because for now, it is still invalid until your fund is transmitted. Here is the processing fee payment information below.
 
Name: NOSA EFOSA
Text Question: GOOD
Text Answer: OK
Country:45 Air port road Ikeja lagos/ Nigeria
Amount: $70
 
You have to go immediately and make the payment before your passcode will be activated and your fund transferred. You can try the guideline for instance: *With your digital phone dial our bank access code followed by, then enter your Account number followed by #, at a voice prompt enter your passcode and # and you will be credited. (This will be when your fund has been transmitted).
 
Any other contact or payment you make apart from the processing fee to anybody or office is at your own risk. Then your email subject must have this code for security reasons "In God We Trust", any email that does not come with it as the subject is not from central bank and guard this code jealously.
 
Be informed that so many unauthorized individuals do parade themselves as our officials and impose bogus bills on our beneficiaries with their syndicates home and abroad. Take precautionary measure henceforth, you have been notified, and once we find out that you are one of the people that involve themselves with these unauthorized individuals, tarnishing the image of this great country we will immediately report you to the authorities (F.B.I) because we are trying our best to restore the image of this great country.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mr Ola James
ACCOUNTANT GENERAL

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