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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: "ADEBOLAJI COLE." <adebolajiyinkacole@outlook.com>
Reply-To: emaildirects@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 14:29:39 -0700
Subject: LETTER OF GOOD INTENT..(1)

Dear Friend,

I apologize that this mail is quite lengthy and for contacting you unsolicited; please treat without prejudice. I am a senior investigator in my organization, and I am currently investigating a domiciliary account that was willed to a PET. The report shows that the account is valued $30 Million and was accessed last since 1979. Though, I have read about Gail Posner, Leona Helmsley, Sidney Altman and several others whose dogs inherited a fortune, but here in Africa, the right to legacy for animals is yet to be enforced in the banking regulatory laws. Having gone through the history of this account, I became convinced that most of the financial assets owned by foreign investors in the 50s will remain unclaimed owing to poor database management system, which our ancient banking suffered.

Prior to this time, I usually refer such unclaimable funds for confiscation, but I fear that this fund may still not get to the federal reserve owing to the level of corrupt activities in the treasury department. It's disgraceful how funds in the treasury account disappear and nobody is asking the right questions because of the massive corruption that has become systemic in this 4th republic. However, I have decided to appoint a human to inherit this fund since I cannot confront my employers stating an animal as the heir to this fund in my report. On this note, I wish to confide in you that I have mapped out strategies to divert this fund to my late wife's orphanage account and would need you to play the role of a foreign donor.

I find it more sensible to enhance the standard of living of the less privileged children with such fund than to allow politicians to embezzle it. Since my employers will not hesitate to endorse anyone certified by me as the beneficiary of this fund, I therefore humbly make this deal offer to you. If you would donate $20 Million to my late wife's orphanage home as a foreign donor, and keep the balance of $10 Million for yourself upon receipt of the $30 Million, I will exercise my umpire immunity to declare you the beneficiary of the fund. If you're interested, please indicate by providing your phone number for further details.

Thanks in anticipation, I hope to read from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours Faithfully,
ADEBOLAJI COLE.
Chief Investigator, Foreign Payment Division.
Federal Code Of Conduct Bureau.

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