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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: "Engr. Mark O. Dickson" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 19:52:39 -0400
Subject: HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE!

ATTN : Sir/Ma


TRANSFER OF $25,500,000.00 (TWENTY-FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AMERICAN
DOLLARS) INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


I on behalf of my other colleagues from different Federal Government of Nigeria owned, We as holders of sensitive positions in our various parastatal, were mandated by the federal government to scrutinize all payments made to foreign contractors, and discovered that some of the contracts they executed were grossly over invoiced,either by omission or commission. Also, we discovered that the sum of $33,000,000.00(thirty three million American dollars only) was lying in a suspense account, although the foreign contractors were fully paid their entitlements after executing the said contracts.


We all agreed that the over-invoiced amount be transferred into a bank account provided by a foreign partner, as the code of conduct of federal civil service does not allow us to operate foreign accounts. However, we have succeeded in transferring some of the monies, precisely US$7.5(Seven million five Hundred American Dollars) into a foreign account in united State of America,but unfortunately the provider of the account has severed all forms of communication with us as he has refused to adhere to our earlier mutual agreement, insisting that the total amount be paid into his nominated bank account before disbursement will take effect. We are therefore seeking your assistance based on the balance amount


US$25.5M which can be speedily processed and fully remitted into your nominated bank account.On successful remittance of the funds into your account, you will be compensated with 20% of of the amount for your assistance and services.



Best regards,
Engr. Mark O. Dickson
Chairman Elders of Holder
Federal Republic of Nigeria

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