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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: Engr Mrs Lisa Breckman <lisabreckman@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: lisabreckman@webmail.co.za
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:12:40 +0200
Subject: MY PROPOSITION TO YOU $$

Attention: Director/CEO, I am Engr.Mrs Lisa Breckman, a consultant project manager of, South Africa Department of Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the Committee need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer. This amount $28.5m represents the balance of the total contract Value Executed on behalf of Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid. Should you be willing to assist us in the transaction your share of the sum will be 30% of the $28.5 million, 70% for us. To enable us commence, I will need your personal telephone/fax number. Thank you, whilst waiting your immediate response. : Tel:+27 739726059 Regards, Mrs Lisa Breckman

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