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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: Joseph Nguran <olivergeorge_esq@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <josephnguran@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 13:08:25 +0000
Subject: No Subject


Hello,

I am Mr.
Joseph Nguran Bank headquarters in Lomé, Togo. Indicate your interest in
receiving a transmission ($ 6.5) million. 50% for me and 50% for you. You will
act as the next of kin of the deceased client, Engr. D.Collins?, whose account
is currently inactive, I know you will be very surprised, because we had never
met before, but I made my intention to open for you understanding what Engr. D
Collins, is a client of our Bank, who died a few years ago with his wife and
only daughter in a car accident and left $ (US $ 6.5 million) in dormant bank
account leaving no one behind the action, I made all the necessary request to
the Embassy, but there is no one left to qualify for the Fund Six million, five
hundred thousand dollars.

I suggest you keep it as top secret as I am
still in service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this
transaction with you, so if you will accept my proposal, I suggest you contact
me back right away with your positive response so I will guide
you on how to apply for the release of funds to your account in your country.

With
perfect reverence

Joseph
Nguran

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