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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: "Kenny Douglas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecbgerm@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 23:06:36 +0200
Subject: Letter of Intent Investment

Attn: Sir/Ma
 
[An-unspent $60M IMF Investment Promotion Fund]
 
I'm an IMF Chief Consultant.The fund is a left over business promotion fund earmarked and approved by IMF aimed at aiding and boosting developing nations entrepreneurial economic scheme. However,due to heavy financial red tape and/or restrictions over outgoing border wire transfers of non-institutional huge funds,the fund was moved and deposited into a [BANK SECURITY VAULT] where it would be moved thereafter into your custody for investments kick-off.
 
Sadly, we are staff-tied hence are barricaded by an IMF charter to receive funds or such in our account names and more so it will trigger alarm that will ridicule us. But we would,however,transact it confidentially with you while you keep shares/stakes of ours on the investment discretely post transaction of the fund.
 
I await your urgent reply to enable us proceed.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kenny Douglas,Chief Consultant

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