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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: "Mr. Gordon Odua" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gordonodua@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 08:26:46 -0700
Subject: From Mr. Gordon Odua

Greetings.
 
This message definitely will be an embarrassing and surprising one as we do not know ourselves.
 
I am Mr. Gordon Odua, a vault manager with a finance and security firm in a country in Asia. I shall disclose my country and company names when and if you declare interest in my proposal as below.
 
One of our very big clients, a non- African deposited some huge sum of millions of US dollars with us but unfortunately, died owing to cardiac related health problems; his death occured l years ago.
 
As a vault manager, all the relevant documents are in my possession hence I am searching for an HONEST non-African who will stand in as the next of kin to the deceased for claims. In my firm, one of my statutory functions is to confirm who the fund owners are and should death occur as in this instance, my report and recommendations are approved by the management for the next of kin to take possession /delivery of whatever that was deposited with us.
 
This transaction is hitch-free as the sharing modalities and the amount involved would be made known to you upon the receipt of your reply.
 
Please keep this to yourself based on its confidentiality as I await to hear from you.
 
Contact me on   gordonodua@yahoo.com
 
Yours Sincerly,
Gordon Odua

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