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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Eng George L. Miguel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <enggeorgemiguelele@one.co.il>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:04:20 -0400
Subject: Re: Letter Of Intent (Urgent Attention Required)

From: Eng George L. Miguel
 
                                                                                                                      
 
Attn: Sir/Madam
 
I presume this message reaches you in a good health. I have an urgent business transaction I will like to introduce to you, but before I go in details, I will want to describe briefly the nature of this deal and an introductory about my humble self.
 
I am Eng George L. Miguel, citizen of United States of America presently representing the United States Government Contract Revalidation & Settlement, heading the committee as the Chairman Contract Review/ Revalidation & Settlement.
 
This committee was set up to help every United States Citizen and other nationalities that have executed contracts from NNPC and other oil and Gas companies in Africa to recover their unpaid contract sum.
 
This is the deal, I have over 16 different contract allocation file with proper revalidation of the contract papers which will be approved for payment immediately I put you forward as the contractor or subcontractor who executed the contract under category (A) with file number ********.
 
We stand to claim over $134,000,000.00 if you give my proposal the proper attention and cooperation required and not to be seen as everyday scam letters that moves around through this same medium.
 
I will be glad to give you proper details as you indicate your interest.
 
Once again I am sorry if this message and its content is against your ethics, on the other hand, this is real and genuine contract revalidation and payments.
 
Thanks,
 
Yours Faithfully,
Eng George L. Miguel

Anti-fraud resources: