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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: "Thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emmaoffice2017@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 10:18:03 -0800
Subject: GOOD NEWS TO YOU

I am Dr. Steve Thompson, the Executive Director, Operations and Information Technology, of U.B.A Bank Nigeria Plc,  a well-known bank in Africa.
One of our accounts with a holding balance of $10.5 Million USD (United State Dollars) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past
six years.
 
From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account,a foreigner died in August 2000 in a auto accident and since then nobody
has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence the account nor the funds.
 
Also Information from the National Immigration stated that he was also single on entry into Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have secretly discussed this matter with some of the bank officials and we agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of the deceased, for the funds to be released to you after due processes have been followed.
 
This transaction is totally risk and trouble free as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drugs, money laundering, terrorism
or any other illegal act. The sharing of the fund between us, is as follows; 50% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this transaction. 50% for me and my colleague's.
 
As soon as i receive an acknowledge of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, i will immediately start up with the processing of the document of claims.
 
 
Best Regards.
Dr. Steve Thompson
Executive Director
Document of Claims
Operations/Information Technology
U.B.A Bank Africa Plcc

Anti-fraud resources: