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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. Tony Ibe" <unofficedmo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrtonyibe@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 May 2014 11:36:33 -0700
Subject: I greet you in good Faith

I greet you in good Faith,

Dear Sir,

I know you will be surprised to read my email. I got your contact from
your Email domain, apart from being surprised you may be skeptical to
reply me due to what is happening on the internet world today. I know
it is very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through
the internet but this is a different case. Your attention to this
message will be of grate benefits to both of us.

My name is Tony Ibe. A staff of Keystone Bank, recently I was ask to
head a team of investigators about a client of ours who died
interstate and has a deposit valued (10.2 million dollars) My bank
issued me a notice to provide our clientele's next of kin or have the
account confiscated within the shortest time frame.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for a year
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased because you bear the same last name, however, your names are
quite similar to our late client.

I have the mind to do this because if no one claims it some top
echelon of the bank will definitely convert it to their personal use.
My recommendation in this all important investigation is all that the
bank needs to take a decision any moment from now.

Please, if the above suggestion /proposal is okay by you simply
indicate your willingness and I will let you have the panacea to
claiming it.

Kindly get back to me.

Best regard,

Mr. Tony Ibe.

Anti-fraud resources: