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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 Michael Okonkwo <mrmichael00okonkwoo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrmichael2009okonkwo5@o2.pl
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:46:09 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From The Desk Of Michael Okonkwo Union Bank


29, Adeyemo Alakija street
off idowu taylor street
Victoria island

Attn Sir

Sorry
to have contacted you through this medium without a previous notice; i
had to use the e-mail because it is an easier and more confidential way
of making contact with people around the world.


My name is Michael Okonkwo, a banker with the union bank plc.
I happen to be the chief account officer to late eng. John, a national
of your country, who used to work with chevron- Development Company
here in Nigeria,
and be referred to as my client. On the 27th of January 2003, my
client, his wife and their three children where involved in ikeja bomb
blast. Which all occupants unfortunately lost their lives?

Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm

since
then i have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives which i was unsuccessful. After this several
unsuccessful attempts, i decided to track his last name over the
internet, to see if i can locate any member of his family as to present
to the bank so that the proceed of this fund can be paid to you for our
mutual trust and benefit.

This
is the reason i contacted you, to assist me in repatriating the money
and property left behind by my client before the bank get's the account
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank which might lead them
to transfer the funds to the government coffers.

Particularly,
the the union bank where the deceased had an account valued at about
usd$35.5 million dollars has issued me a notice as his senior account
officer to provide the next of kin to the deceased client or them the
bank will have the account confiscated within the next thirty (30)
working official working days from now.  

Since
i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years
now, i seek your consent to present you to the bank as the next of kin
of the deceased so that the proceeds of the account valued at usd$33.5
million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money.50% to me and 40% to you and 10% will be used for any expenses at
its process.  

I
have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this
claim. All i require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing
this deal through.  I guarantee you that this business will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and i from any
breach of the law.  

Please get in touch with me by sending to me below information’s:

(1) your full name:..............................................
{2} your residential/postal address:.............................
(3) your telephone and fax numbers:...........................
(4) your age........................................................
(5) your occupation:................................................
(6) gender/sex:.....................................................

Please get in touch with me by my private (mrmichael2009okonkwo5@o2.pl) as soon as i
hear from you, then i will move on and advice you on what next to accomplish and good for us to proceed immediately.  

Best regards,
Michael Okonkwo

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