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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: "COLE ADEBOLAJI." <adebolajiyinkacole@outlook.com>
Reply-To: adebolajibolajicole@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2014 22:18:51 -0700
Subject: GOOD INTENT LETTER.

Dear Friend,

I apologize that this mail is quite lengthy and for contacting you unsolicited; please treat without prejudice. I am a senior investigator with the Code of Conduct Bureau, and I am currently investigating a domiciliary account valued $30 Million. According to the probate letter, the amount stated was willed to a PET and the history of this account shows that the account was last accessed in 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 an animal is yet to be enforced in the banking acts.

Having gone through the history of this account, I became convinced that estates owned by foreign investors in the 50s will remain unclaimed in Africa 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 accounts disappear and nobody cares to ask the right questions because of the massive corruption that has become the order of the day in this 4th republic. However, I have decided to appoint a human to inherit this fund since I cannot confront my employers reporting an animal as the sole beneficiary of this fund.

On this note, I wish to confide in you that I have mapped out plans to divert the said fund to my late wife's orphanage account and would need you to play the role of a foreign donor. Since my employers will not hesitate to endorse anyone certified by me as the heir to this fund, I therefore make this deal offer to you. If you would donate $20 Million to her 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 your favour and declare you the beneficiary of this 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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