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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Ramsey" <mich00025@msn.com>
Reply-To: michram_40044004@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 23:56:57 +0000
Subject: RE URGENT




Dear Friend,

Good day to you. I may have to trouble your sense of personal
achievement and reward for an opportunity properly taken advantage of.

I am Mr. Michael Ramsey, a representative and an attorney to Kenneth
Lay, the former chairman & CEO, Enron Corp. Industry: Energy &Natural
Resources Home, he deposited (21,000,000.00) with me when he was in power as
the chairman.

I am contacting you because I want you to deal with the Finance house
and claim the money on my behalf since I have declared that the Funds
belong to my foreign business partner. You shall also be required to assist
me in investment in your country. I hope to trust you as a God fearing
person who will not sit on this money when you claim it, rather assist me
properly, shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. When I
receive your positive response I will let you Know where the Finance houses
his and the document's to lay claims to the funds, which is very important.
What I need is for you to indicate your interest that you will assist us by
receiving the money on my behalf in Europe. For this, you shall be
considered to be the beneficiary to the funds. The project in brief, is that
the funds with which we intend to carry out our proposed investments in your
country, is presently in the custody of a bank in Europe. I do not want the
government of my Country to know about the money because they will believe I
got the money from the sales of Enron stock when he was the Chairman of
Enron &C.E.O.

Once I have your details in full the finance house will contact you for
Release of the funds to your account As soon as payment is effected,
and the amount mentioned above is successfully transferred into your
account, I intend to use my own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For
this too you shall also be the overseas manager of all our properties and
you will be paid based on a certain percentage agreed on by both parties.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in
touch with me urgently, I am presently in Ireland.

Please, provide me the following:

1. Full Name

2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number

3. Your Contact Address.


Thanks.

Michael Ramsey.


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