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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 Okodi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcoffice@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:58:17 -0400
Subject: YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS MYYUJGXGLQ

FROM THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
MR. MICHAEL OKODI (OFR)
FMF ANNEX COMPLEX BUILDING
GARKI, ABUJA
NIGERIA
 
YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS
Our Ref: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/09/009.
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:
MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/
 
Attention Beneficiary,
 
This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding
Contractual/Inheritance payment which was suspended by the Central Bank of
Nigeria there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your
Contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account. As a result of this
Development, verification conducted by the Finance Ministry in conjunction with
the Debt Verification Panel on your contract/inheritance case, your file has
been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations.
 
During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN),it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign
Contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the year
2007/2008 that your name and company is next on the list of those who will
Received their fund.
 
Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be
your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to this
office if this man is truly from you or not, so that the federal government will
not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.
 
NAME: MR. JOHNSON WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
 
Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from
you. you are requested to fill and send this information for verifications
purposes so that your fund will be remitted into your nominated bank account.
this fund is as a result of inheritance on your behalf. information needed from
you for verification is as follow:
 
(1) Your full name and address:
(2) Your age and marital status:
(3) Your occupation:
(4) Your telephone/fax number:
(5) Your nationality:
 
As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary procedures in
other to remit this money into your account. The Central Bank
Governor, Executive Board of Directors and the Senate committee for foreign over
due inheritance fund have approved and accredited this reputable ministry, with
the office of the minister of finance on international remittance/foreign
operations, to handle and supervise the transfer of all foreign inheritance
funds for this first quarter payment of the year 2011.
 
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr.White,
if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We
are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must
have caused you.
 
Best Regards.
Mr.Michael Okodi.

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