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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: "Mr.Victor Ibe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vicibe@qq.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 18:07:51 -0800
Subject: From Mr. Victor Ibe/Inheritance Proposal.

Attn:
 
I am a Chartered Accountant with the UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA(UBA), My name is Mr. Victor Ibe, I am the personal Account Manager to Late Eng. Peter W. a contract was awarded to our clients By NNPC officials to Late Peter. Who is a citizen of United States of America who used to work with an Oil Development company in Nigeria? NNPC (NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM COMPANY).
 
Here in after shall be referred to as my client On April 21, 2002, my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet to locate any member of his family but all in vain.
 
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) PLC.Where the deceased had an account Valued at about (USD10.5 Million US dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since i can confide in you so that the proceeds of this account valued at (USD10.5 million US dollars) can be paid to you and then myself and you can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you.
 
An attorney will be contacted to help revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Do get back to me on this my email address (mrvictoribe@qq.com)
 
Respectfully Yours
 
Mr. Victor Ibe.

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