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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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Fraud email example:

From: "les harty" <lesharty@business-solutionsworld.net>
Reply-To: lesharty77@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 07 Jul 2005 07:34:53 +0000
Subject: How are you doing today?Hope all is well with you?

Compliments and Greetings.
I have been searching for a person whom we can jointly invest Trust in and
also solicit an honourable partnership with. I want to confirm that your
contact information was retrieved after a very complex and tidious process.
I represent a client and my client has interest to do business relating to
investments in your country in areas related to agriculture or any business
of your choice, to initiate a proper and structured relationship:
Please let me know what your response will be to an offer to receive
investment funds in cash if:
1. The said fund amounts to Eight Million, Five hundred Thousand Dollars
(US).
2. The said fund is in cash and needs to be transferred in the same state,
due to restrictive banking laws in the territory where the fund is presently
secured in cash. The banking laws do not permit deposit of an amount in
excess of Ten Thousand Dollars so there is not way that the fund can be
banked.
3. The fund could be invested through your agency in the purchase of
facility and assets for investment purposes within your country, in
collaboration with the agency of the current brokers.
4. This transaction will result in you being paid a commission of 10% off
the investment capital.
5. The fund owners desire absolute confidentiality and professionalism in
the handling of this matter, due to risks of seizure of the fund and
litigation if personality is revealed.
The fund owners have interest to invest in any of the following industries,
depending on which is most not transparent, low risk, and average profit
yielding- Power Generation, Telecommunication and Software Development,
Hardware Manufacturing and Export, Construction or Real-Estate Development.
Based upon the information provided above, I would like to know if you shall
be able to assist in the nature of managing the investment fund. You must
note that the fund can only be transferred in cash,therefore if you are in
acceptance to participate with us in the investment of the fund, you shall
also need to participate with us in the transfer of the fund in cash in the
manner of receiving the fund in cash and depositing it in a Trust account
opened in favour of the investment to be established. And this account would
serve as the base or operating account for the investment.
I am obliged to believe that you would be able to understand the information
above, and should you need further information, please do not hesitate to
ask.
Kindly confirm receipt of this email by sending all correspondence to
I appreciate your concern.
Sincerely,

Mr Les Harty


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