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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. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drngokonjoi@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 13:40:24 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

Attention:

A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning signed by two gentlemen, one of them is an American national and he is RICHARD HOUGHTON while the other person is AUDREY MEGAN, a CANADIAN national.

These gentlemen claimed to be your representative, and the power of attorney recorded that you are admitted in the hospital as a result of LUNG and BRONCHIAL CANCER, they advise that your fund be released to them as instructed but on a second thought; my office deemed it fit to write for confirmation from which it may concerned.

You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm the truth in this information, if you instructed them to handle the claim on your behalf, do contact us back immediately as my office has pledged to ensure that we monitor all the activities going on in regards to the transfer of beneficiaries’ entitlement funds.

Just also be informed that any further delay from your side could lead to having the funds released to the above persons and as such, we would not be held responsible of such action. PLEASE GET WELL QUICK and feel free to call me on my direct number: +2349032173437

Kindly reply,
Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance
Federal Republic of Nigeria
+2349032173437

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