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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: "Rev. Dr. Franklin Mbah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revmartinekeh111@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:38:51 +0200
Subject: Please Get Back to Us Immediately You Receive This Message Today

>From the Desk of
Rev, Dr. Franklin Mbah
Chairman Contract Verification/Review
Panel and Foreign Debt Payment  
Attention: Beneficiary  
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been seriously warned by the United States Government, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, United Nations (UN) and other international bodies to make sure we settle most of our outstanding foreign debts we owed to Next of Kin’s,. Fund Beneficiaries and foreign contractors that executed contract with us
In light of this, this present administration under the auspices of the new Civilian Head of State Dr. Good Luck Jonathan  the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria within Five days on assumption of office set up this panel to review, verify and to settle all outstanding legitimate foreign debts the Federal Government of Nigeria owed to next of kin’s and foreign contractors that executed contract with the Federal Government of Nigeria for the past five years.  
But sir, a very surprising record was discovered in your payment file that is why you have not been contacted about this since then. Records showed that your inheritance payment has been approved four times and duly completed two times. Also we found out that these funds totaling $20.000.000.00 (Twenty Million United States Dollars) was transferred directly from the central bank of Nigeria to the below stated bank account on your authorization. This has now resulted in bringing the USA and British Government into the case and we really want you to explain to us what you know about this transfer/payment  
BANK NAME: STANDARD CHATTERED BANK,
BANK ADDRESS, 138-141 1ST FLOOR, EDINBURGH TOWER,
THE LANDMARK, 15 QUEENS ROAD, CENTRAL HONG KONG,
ACCOUNT NAME: INDO-CHINA GROUP LTD,
A/C #: USD114-102-5567-8,
SWIFT CODE: SCBL 11K111  
The most baffling part is that this your payment keeps coming up in every period of debt reconciliation and verification always receives approval like now.
NOW OUR QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR FULL PAYMENT OR ANY PART OF YOUR FUND ENTITLEMENT OWED TO YOU BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT? WE NEED THESE ANSWERS FROM YOU WITHIN 24HOURS FROM NOW. AND IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE TODAY, WE WILL ASSUME YOU ARE INVOLVED AND HAVE RECEIVED OVER PAYMENT, WHICH ONE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO NIGERIA  
Help us to help you, If not call me immediately you receive this message today on my direct number or send me a details email disclaiming the information so that you will be issued with claim identification code (CIC) which will help you to secure your claim and payment from fraudulent officials. And also you will be advised and guided accordingly on how you will receive your legitimate fund entitlement from the Nigerian Government, which will be credited into your nominated bank account within 72hours from now.  
And you will be required to send us the below stated information for confirmation and record purposes  
1. Your Full Name:
2. Your Direct Telephone
3. Fax Number
4. Your Residential Address:
5.  Your Current Receiving Banking Details
 
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation  
Yours truly.
Rev, Dr. Franklin Mbah
The Chairman of Contract Verification/Review
Panel and Foreign Debt Payment

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