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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: peter komo <pe_komo4@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 07:12:23 -0800 (PST)
Subject: confidential matter




ENGR.PETER KOMO
DIRECTOR, MINERALS & NATURAL
RESOURCES, SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTRY OF
MINING & MINERAL RESOURCES, (SMMR)
PRETORIA, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
DIRECT TEL: 27-83-354-3848
DIRECT FAX: 27-11-507-6446

ATTN: SIR,

It is my pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues. I
have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in executing of
a deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties, and hope you will keep
it confidential because of the nature of this business.

I am the Director of Mineral and Natural Resources of the South African
Ministry of Mining and Mineral Resources (SMMR) and I have the
co-operation of two other top officials, we have in our possession an
overdue payment in US funds.

The funds represent some percentage of the contract executed on behalf of
my ministry by a foreign firm, which we over-invoiced to the amount of
US$9,800,000.00 (Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars.) Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original
contractor, leaving the excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all
debts owed, so as to maintain good relationship with other governments. As
a result we include our bills for approvals with the co-operation of some
officials at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
We are seeking your assistance as the Beneficiary of the unclaimed funds,
since we are not allowed to operate a foreign account.
We hereby propose that, should you be willing to assist us in this
transaction your share as compensation will be 30% while my colleagues and
I receive 60% and 10% for miscellaneous expenses.

Kindly notify me by phone or by email for more
clarification, upon your acceptance of this proposal.

Yours Faithfully
Engr. Peter komo









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