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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: "Thomas Eso." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adebolajicole@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:12:05 +0100
Subject: ABOUT YOUR PENDING PAYMENT!!

Dear Beneficiary,
 
I write to inform you that the C-PRV exercise for every unclaimed funds has been launched to mark the new Financial calendar. I thought it wise to give you this head-up after I discovered from my exclusive review that your payment approval was declined because the sum of US$20M in your name was skilfully fashioned to your favour as a 'Ghost Recipient'. I have no doubt that your emergence as the Next of-Kin was made possible by virtue of your partnership with an insider which is a common practice by some personnel in governmental corporations. Perhaps your partners are top political office holders; I still fear that the C-PRV exercise may lead to a recall of your payment if a speedy action is not taken to the end.
 
Note that the fees you incurred why trying to receive the fund was not a rip-off scheme. Unfortunately, the attempted US$20M transfer to your account were frustrated with deliberate disapproval by a batch of unpersuadable predecessors on the suspicion of "Ghost Claim". The term 'Ghost Claim' is an administrative cliche, it means the Non appearance of a Claimant; it is the most criticized model having a high rate of discrepancies as a result of the inadequacies of today's internet. However, let me reassure you as the incumbent chairman that your funds can be released to you in the most effortless manner therefore, I must advise you not to seek more help from your partners and discontinue every dealings with everyone from now.
 
Even as the US$20M entitlement has already been accredited in your name as the beneficiary, the existence of the procedural bottleneck may stall your payment owing to the fact that your partners did poorly by using the Ghost Claim channel to introduce your claim. If you would accept me as your new partner, I will be willing to explore my executive powers to influence the swift approval of your overdue payment in seven working days. If you feel disposed towards the solicited offer on a sharing ratio of 50%-50%, please indicate by prompt reply so that I may unveil the road map for this venture.
 
Thanks in anticipation, I hope to read from you at your earliest convenience.
Regards,
Thomas Eso.
Chairman, Foreign Disbursement and Monitoring Unit,
National Debt Management Board.

Anti-fraud resources: