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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: "Eng. Nico John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nicojohnformankind@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:20:03 +0100
Subject: PROPOSAL: Kindly help and be rewarded 20%

>From the Desk of Eng. Nico John
Executive Director
 
Good day,
May I introduce myself to you. I am Eng Nico John, a professional business consultant and I humbly seek your consent for a transaction that will be of mutual benefit.
Briefly about my proposal: I have a client who inherited an amount of Twenty Million, five hundred Thousand United State Dollars (20.5M$) from his late father. Now for obvious reasons which I tell you later, my client now needs help from a neutral but trusted person (which I presume you are) to safeguard the money for subsequent investment purpose as my client hope to establish in your line of business where you will become consultant/partner. I know you will wonder about it but don't worry, when I give you full details, you will understand better how profitable it will be for both parties.
 
For your anticipated help, you will be compensated with 20% and also we hope to establish a lasting business relationship with you thereafter which you will as well be entitled to periodical compensation as we shall agree upon. You may contact me through my private email( nicojohnformankind@outlook.com )
Please do confirm your interest and immediately I will give you the full details. On behalf of my client, thanks and God bless as I look forward to your kind consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Eng Nico John
 
 
 

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