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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Usman Hassan <usmanhassan1950@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.usman66@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 10:15:19 +0100
Subject: INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FUND.

Attention,

After waiting to hear from you or your partner for a long time now, I
Decided to make this direct approach to you as my new resolution in
other not to Let it be if I have anything in mind against you. I do
not know if you have Asked yourself why each time the release of this
fund is approved, all of a Sudden, the payment will be stopped or one
problem or the other will come up if You have not asked this question
or you do not know, this is an opportunity for Me to tell you.

Some time ago, your friend, I mean the people that introduced you to
The project approached me through my dear wife who work with the
Federal Ministry of Finance and requested me to assist them conclude a
money transfer Deal they had with you. They requested me to assist
them by removing the Original contractor's name, company's name and
bank particulars from the Central Bank (CBN) vetting
computer and replacing them with your name And bank details in order
to make you appear as the rightful beneficiary of this Fund.

I agreed on condition that he will pay me US$80,000.00 as soon as your
name Appears as the beneficiary. I did as agreed and demanded to be
paid, but your Friend started telling me stories; they even told me
you promised to send money To me. Do you know that up till now, I have
not received a single cent from him and Have not set my eyes on any of
them? Based on their attitude, I decided to Stop the fund release
movement because I cannot be denied of my right in my own Office
considering the risk as it might affect my job. Secondly, I know the
Source of the funds that you did not execute any contract with him,
although I Am the only person privileged to know this information and
it is a fact? Why I Am making this clear to you is that I can see that
you are still making efforts In order to conclude this project. Now I
am ready to forget the past.

I do not need the US $80.000.00 any longer from you but a good
compensation From your mind. I need your assurance that those
colleagues will be totally kept Out of this transaction. I know that
none of them is aware of my new approach to You. Stop spending your
money unnecessarily to the Officers both here and Overseas because you
will not receive this money without my hand in it. I Personally did
the work at the beginning and only I can perform it.

Finally, I need your promise that no official of the Central Bank Will
be aware of my involvement in this regard because of my
position. Now re-assure me that you will be willing to compensate me
and that you will assist My wife to establish a foreign account in
your country where my compensation Will be lodged. Also a TT FUND
RELEASE APPROVAL DOCUMENTS will be sent to you For endorsement after
which I will remit the money within 48 hours. I am a man of my word.

If you are ready to conclude this business with me, Kindly contact me
so that we can have a chat over this issue once and for all. But if
the reverse is the case, do not bother yourself to reach me and forget
About this money.

BEST REGARDS
Dr. Usman Hassan
Payment Verification Panel

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