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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: "Dr.John Bello" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnbello888@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:05:50 +0530
Subject: Your quick response is needed urgently

 
Dear Beneficiary,
It will please me if you can give proper attention to  this mail for my urgent action on your outstanding payment. My Name is Dr John Bello,the head of Payment Probe Verification Panel .
I was appointed the Chairman of Payment Probe  Verification Panel by the President to review all the outstanding fund litigations with the Nigeria Government and during the sitting of my panel, we dictated your name as one of the people who has been a victim of the fraudulent activities going on here by civilians in the Government offices and our further review on your file proved that you are claiming a fund that did not actually belong to you, but your Nigeria partners has used your name to deceive the Government authorities to claim the fund by presenting you as the beneficiary.
However, for the fact that the fund is floating unclaimed here, I will  not claim to be a saint to allow the fund go back to the Government treasury. So if you really want to work with me, i am given you conditions as stated  bellow so that you will take a decision immediately if we can work together to achieve your over long dreams.
(1) I will convince my committee members to approve the fund in your  name if you can forfeit 40% of the fund to me and my committee members and 60% will be for you.And I will need your assurance and a promisory note, that those Colleagues of yours or any Government Official will be totally kept out of this transaction since none of them is aware of this new development.
(2) That you will keep the arrangement 100% secret until the fund gets to your bank account and you pay us our own 40%. I will be looking forward to hear from you to enable me communicate to my committee members for immediate approval of your fund.
Your quick response is needed urgently
Thanks for your cooperation.
Best Regards
Dr John Bello
Chairman Probe Verification Panel
 

Anti-fraud resources: