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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: George Odiaka <georgeodiaka@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2019 21:40:59 -0700
Subject: HELLO

--
Compliments of the day to you!
My name is Eng. George Odiaka, a director for project and planning
department of the federal ministry of works & housing authority. I am the
head of Tenders Board Committee in charge of awarding contracts to both
local and foreign contractors.
In 2018, we executed series of contracts and some of this contracts we
deliberately over invoiced to the tune of Eighteen million, three Hundred
Thousand United States dollars ($18,300,000.00) .
We as civil servants cannot keep this amount in our personal accounts here
in our country because of government fund monitoring team on all public
office holders account.
In view of this, my partners have mandated me to look for a foreign partner
who will assist us to act as a contractor to receive these fund into any
account of your choice and we will compensate you with 30% of the total
sum as your share beneficiary.
Please understand that this is a serious matter and we need full
cooperation from you to transfer these fund.
Cheers and God bless.
Eng. George Odiaka

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