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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: "JOSEPH MABU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josephmabu@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 15:52:57 -0500
Subject: Re:

                      Re: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION
 
I work with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs my office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels inline to foreign contracts settlement.I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc.
 
I write to present you to the federal government that you are among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account, on this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds. I have every files before me and the data will be change to your name to enable you receive the fund into your nominated bank account as the beneficiary of the fund's amount $15.5 Million.I will wait for your reply thus we can team up together and make something out of this opportunity.
 
Thanks,
Joseph Mabu.

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