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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: Oversea Consultants <info.overseaconsult55@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:45:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: HELLO,


HELLO,
I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN EXPORT BUSINESS OPPOURTUNITY THAT INVOLVES THE SUPPLY OF SOME PRODUCTS IN GREAT DEMAND BY FARMERS IN SOME RURAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES. THIS I BELIEVE IF PROPERLY HANDLED WOULD YEILD PROFIT FOR US ALL.  MY NAME IS BOB MANUEL. I USE TO WORK FOR A BUSINESS RELATIONS FIRM IN SOUTH AFRICA . I HAVE CONTACTED YOU FOR THIS PROJECT THAT I AM SURE WILL BENEFIT WE BOTH AT THE END ON OUR GOOD AGREEMENT.
 
ON MY PART I FEEL BETRAYED BY THE COMPANY I HONESTLY WORKED FOR 5 YEARS. THIS WAS AFTER I HAD BROUGHT A BUSINESS CONTACT TO THIS COMPANY WHICH ENHANCED THEIR GROWTH  BY THE PROFIT IT MADE. NOT ONLY WAS I NOT PAID ANY SHARE OF THIS PROFIT, I HAVE JUST HAD MY EMPLOYMENT TERMINATED FOR REQUESTING IT. NOW I AM DETERMINED TO TAKE BACK THIS BUSINESS CONTACT THAT I HAD BROUGHT TO THIS COMPANY THAT DID NOT APPRECIATE ME AND DO DIRECT BUSINESS WITH THEM, WITH A WILLING PARTNER IF YOU WILL BE INTERESTED.
 
WHILE I WAS ON A BUSINESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED FOR FARMERS AND BUSINESS PRODUCE DEALERS IN 2011. I HAD THE OPPOURTUNITY OF MEETING A CERTAIN GENTLEMAN WHO OWNS A LARGE DAIRY FARM AND LIVESTOCKS BUSINESS. HE WAS COMPLAINING OF THE SCARCITY AND THE HIGH COST OF A CERTAIN PRODUCT HE USES IN HIS FARMS AND WHICH HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS PRACTICALLY AT THE MERCY OF HIS PRESENT SUPPLIERS. NOW I TOLD HIM THAT WE COULD SOURCE FOR A BETTER DEAL FOR HIM.
 
UPON MY RETURN I TOLD MY BOSS ALL ABOUT IT, AND ON HIS NEXT TRIP TO EUROPE , HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE MANUFACTURES OF THIS PRODUCT IN ENGLAND. WHEN HE CAME BACK HE MADE A PROPOSAL TO THIS FARMER THAT I INTRODUCED TO HIM AND SOME OTHERS WHO ARE INTO LIVETOCK BUSINESS. HE STARTED ACTING AS THE MIDDLE MAN FOR THESE SUPPLIES. BY TELLING THEM THAT THE PRODUCT WAS MANUFACTURED SOMEWHERE IN ASIA AND THAT THE MANUFACTURERS DO NOT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH FARMERS FOR VARIOUS  REASONS. BY DOING THIS, HE CONERED THE MARKET TO HIMSELF AND MADE LARGE PROFIT MARGINS FROM THESE FARMERS.
 
BUT RECENTLY, A MISUNDERSTANDING DEVELOPED BETWEEN HIM AND THE FARMERS. REASON BEING THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SUPPLY A FAKE VERSION OF THE SAME PRODUCT TO MAXIMISE PROFIT. HE HAD ARRANGED WITH A DRUG MANUFACTURING FACTORY IN INDIA TO RE-PRODUCE ANOTHER CHEAPER VERSION OF THIS PRODUCT. WHICH CAUSED THE DEATH OF MANY LIVESTOCK OWNED BY FARMERS WHO USED IT. FOR THIS REASON THE FARMERS BOYCOTTED HIS BRAND OF PRODUCTS. HE ACCUSED ME OF TELLING THEM WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND SACKED ME OVER THIS. FOR THIS REASON, I HAVE APPROACHED ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUYERS, AND HAVE OFFERED TO INTRODUCE HIM THIS TIME DIRECTLY TO THE REAL PRODUCERS OF THE PRODUCT AND TO HELP HIM GET THE PRODUCT FROM THE REAL SOURCE. HE IS SO PLEASED ABOUT THIS.
 
IF THIS IS OF ANY INTEREST TO YOU, I INTEND TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE FARMER AS THE MANUFACTURER OR SOLE SUPPLIER OF THIS PRODUCT. AS HE BELIEVES THAT THIS PRODUCT IS MANUFACTURED IN ASIA. I ALSO INTEND TO GIVE YOU A DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE REAL MANUFACTURERS SO THAT YOU MAY NEGOTIATE WITH THEM AND MAKE A RE-SUPPLY TO THESE FARMERS IN AFRICA FOR SOME PROFIT WHICH WE WILL SHARE. THE LAST TIME I KNOW, THE PRODUCT IS MANUFACTURED AT $3850,00 USD PER CARTON OF 24 BOTTLES OF 500ML. BUT THESE FARMERS HAVE BEEN BUYING THEM AT $6,400 USD FROM MY BOSS. IF YOU COULD OFFER THEM AT $5,200 USD PER CARTON, THEY WILL BE FIGHTING TO GET SUPPLIES FROM YOU. I CANNOT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE MANUFACTURERS, BECAUSE I KNOW MY BOSS WOULD HAVE ADVISED THEM AGAINST DEALING WITH ME. SO I WILL NEED YOU TO ACT AS THE MIDDLE PERSON TAKING SUPPLIES FROM THE MANUFACTURERS, TO SATISFY THE ORDERS FROM THESE FARMERS. SOME OF THEM ARE WILLING TO PUT UP ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR EACH SUPPLY. 
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
 
THANK YOU. 
 
MR BOB MANUEL.
J,BURG. SOUTH AFRICA.

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