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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: "atlantic ventures" <borris3036@msn.com>
Reply-To: atlantic_ventures@walla.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 02:54:12 +0000
Subject: REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED

ATLANTIC VENTURES



DEAR SIR/MADAM,

WE THE MANAGEMENT OF ATLANTIC VENTURES PLC, A COMPANY IN NIGERIA WHO
EXPORTS GINGER,GARLIC AND LIMESTONE IN OUR EXPANSION PROJECT WISH TO ASK FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

YOUR DUTY: YOU WILL RECEIVE FUNDS ON OUR BEHALF FROM OUR NUMEROUS
CUSTOMERS IN YOUR COUNTRY AND HELP US SEND IT ACROSS AS DIRECTED.

YOUR REWARD: FOR EVERY FUND RECEIVED FROM ANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WE WILL
BE PAYING A COMMISION OF 10% WHICH YOU WILL DEDUCT FROM ANY FUND RECEIVED
AND PAY THE REST INTO OUR ACCOUNT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO HASTEN THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS AS PAYMENT
INTO OUR OFFSHORE ACCOUNT POSES DELAY IN OUR TRANSACTION WHICH TAKES UP TO
21
DAYS TO MATURE AND THIS SLOWS DOWN OUR BUSINESS. WE ARE BANKING ON YOUR
TRUST
TO ACT IN THIS CAPACITY,AND WE WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOU
TO
ENABLE US PASS ACROSS TO OUR CUSTOMERS SO THAT PAYMENT CAN BEGIN
IMMEDIATELY.

1 FULL NAMES/COMPANY NAME
2 CONTACT ADDRESS
3 TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
4 AGE AND NEXT BRITHDAY
5 SEX.
WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER OUR PROPOSAL AND ACT IN DESPACTH.

MARK BARTON
FOR MANAGEMENT.

NOTE:DO GET BACK TO US USING THIS EMAIL:atlantic_ventures@walla.com


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