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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: "Mrs Victoria Uba" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <team.desk@cantv.net>
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2010 13:10:40 -0700
Subject: Re:Unclaimed Fund Release Order!

From Mrs Victoria Uba
Head of Bureau of Public Procurements
 
Attn The Beneficiary.
 
 
This letter is from Financial Inspection Team on  unpaid/unclaimed Fund which was newly inaugurated by the International Financial management reform. It is my modest obligation to write you this letter once again in regards to the authorization of your owed outstanding payment through our most respected financial institution. However regarding our full investigation recently, it may interest you that we discovered an unclaimed fund on your favor and we have been mandated by the financial management to ensure that this fund gets to you without further delay.
 
According to the records here ,this message was severally sent to you by the late Mrs Elizabeth Igwe and act of your ignorance, you did not care to respond. Be informed that the Federal Government have mandatory approved the release of a certain amount to you which have been under the Government treasury for many years UNCLAIMED.Base on our observations we confirmed that some top desperate bank/Government officials that handling this transaction with you refuse to tell you the truth on how this sum can be released without having any kind of liabilities.
 
On a more serious note,I want to help you PULL OUT the sum using my position and make proper arrangement for quick method which have not been known to you before if i may say. The essence of this special arrangement under the fund delivery system is to secure and protect your claim from not being diverted by any of these top desperate government officials who always demanding for non-official charges from you that has no records. It is very important that you respond this message enclose with your delivery address and name to be used including phone number to enable us open a new payment file and commence for further delivery process.
 
 
As soon as we have these important information from you, we will conclude finally with the delivery authority/agent for the direct fund shipment to your country and give you adequate information regarding to that effect. This arrangement is been made for a purpose and it will do you more good if you can work toward my directives so they will be no mistake during the delivery process.
However, I have to use this opportunity to inform you that the delivery personal who will be conveying the shipment to your destination does not know the original contents. What will be declaring to him is personal effects to be handle with care which i will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the consignments to enable you access the consignments as soon as it is delivered to you.
 
Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements information immediately you receive this message. Please bear in mind that time is of very great essence, so you have to make your responses in good time, preferably immediately you receive this email.
Best Regards,
Mrs Victoria Uba

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