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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: "Dr. Brooks mende" <mende_brooks_snr@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 08:53:10 +0300
Subject: REACH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PLEASE

COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY TO YOU. I WISH TO EXTEND THIS MUTUAL BUSINESS
PROPOSAL TO YOU WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL GLADLY ACCEPT IT.
I AM THE PRINCIPAL AUDITOR OF THE ETHIOPIAN PETROLEUM
CORPORATION.

A POST I HAVE HELD FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. IN THE COURSE OF
DISCHARGING MY DUTY LAST YEAR, I DISCOVERED THAT SOME GOVERNMENTAL
OFFICIALS IN THE PAST, COMMITTED SOME IRREGULARITIES IN THE FORM OF
OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT VALUES WHICH EVENTUALLY GOT INTO THEIR PRIVATE
BANK ACCOUNTS.

WHAT INTERESTS ME MOST, AND FOR WHICH REASON I AM WRITING YOU IS THIS
PARTICULAR CONTRACT WHICH WAS AWARDED TO A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, IT WAS
OVER ESTIMATED BY THE TUNE OF US$17.600M (SEVENTEEN MILLION, SIX
HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS).THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND
COMMISSIONED AND THE CONTRACTOR FULLY PAID, BUT THE US$17.600M (SEVENTEEN
MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS) OVER ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE
CONTRACT IS STILL LYING AT THE NATIONAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA (N.B.E). BECAUSE OF
THE HASTE WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESHUFFLED,
THESE MEN HAS NO CHANCE TO COLLECT THIS MONEY BEFORE LEAVING THE
OFFICE. BUT AS A RESULT OF UPDATED PAYMENTS ADVICE AT THE NATIONAL
BANK OF ETHIOPIA (N.B.E), IT HAS BEEN AWAITING TRANSFER TO A FOREIGN
ACCOUNT.

IN MY REPORT, I RECOMMENDED THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD BE PAID BUT ON THE
CONDITION THAT THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE INFORMED. MY RECOMMENDATION
WAS ACCEPTED AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD ORDER TO GET IN-TOUCH
WITH THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, BUT SINCE THE CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN FULLY
PAID FOR THE JOB DONE; I WANT TO DIVERT THIS MONEY TO ANOTHER FOREIGN
ACCOUNT.

I HAVE DONE ALL THE NECESSARY GROUND WORK.THIS MONEY IS IN MY
POSSESSION AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD FOR A TRUST WORTHY PERSON INTO
WHOSE PRIVATE OR COMPANY'S ACCOUNT THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED IN
TO,THEN AFTER THIS TRANSACTION I WILL GO INTO BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY
THROUGH YOU AS MY AGENT. YOU ARE THEREFORE REQUESTED TO KINDLY ALLOW
ME TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT PROVIDED THAT I CAN
WITHDRAW THIS MONEY WHEN I WANT TO UPON THE TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY,
60% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES WHILE 30% SHALL
BE FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER AND THE REMAINING
10% SHALL BE SET ASIDE TO REFUND EXPENSES MADE IN THE COURSE OF THIS
TRANSACTION.

I AWAIT YOUR QUICKEST RESPONSE AS TIME IS OF ESSENCE IN THIS
TRANSACTION, I ALSO WANT YOU TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS TRANSACTION
WILL TAKE US 5 TO 6 WORKING DAYS TO CONCLUDE AS I HAVE MADE ALL
ARRANGEMENT WITH A LAWYER WHO WILL BE FIT FOR THE PROCESSING OF THE
DOCUMENTS FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND IN TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
REPLY ME THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:mende_brooks@myway.com

THANKS,
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR,BROOKS MENDE

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