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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: "JOHN MARIO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_lightup@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 08:06:09 -0700
Subject: INVESTMENT INQUIRY

Dear Friend,

Compliments.
We've been trying to reach you several times without no success. we are trying if this email can get into your inbox to explain our investment intentions to you.

I am contacting you briefly based on the Investment of Fifty Million Dollars (US$ 50,000,000:00) in your country, as I presently have a client who is interested in investing in your country, but he has never done business in your country before. I find it imperative to solicit for a partnership. Hence upon receipt of this letter, I implore you to kindly respond and let me know how possible it is to work with you in mutual partnership under the below conditions as follows:

1. My client's fund is Ready.
2. My client is willing to invest immediately.
3. My client will pay you a commission of 20% of the investment fund for logistics and protocols which is Ten Million to you.
4. My client desires absolute confidentiality in the handling and management of this brief within 5 years.

I must draw your attention to the fact that I have kept the information's here in this letter stated brief;
as I do not know if you will receive this letter and or what your response will be, If you do have the interest and the capability to partner with me under the above stated conditionality, I will appreciate your response sent back to me by email address: john_lightup@aol.com
I will appreciate that you include a brief profile of yourself and your company for me to better appreciate your personality.
I look forward to your response and our partnership.

Have a nice day.
Sincerely Yours.

Mr. John Mario.

Anti-fraud resources: