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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: "ARNOLD SMART" <melriseinternational@msn.com>
Reply-To: arnoldsmart@walla.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 06:28:32 +0000
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT

PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT

Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Mr.Arnold Smart, managinig of Melrise International Ltd UK. we are a
group of business men who deal on machinery and export into the Canada/
America and Europe.

We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of
getting to our customers in the canada/America and Europe as well as making
payments through you (as our payment officer) to us.

Please if you are interested in transacting business with us, we will be
very glad. Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity to
negotiate your mode of which we will pay you for your services as our
representative in Canada/America and Europe.

Note, there is no financial obligation required from you, and this
transaction is 100% risk free.If this proposal is accepted by you, A swift
acknowledgement on the receipt of this mail will be appreciated, furnishing
me via email with your

(1) Your full names,
(2) Age and Sex
(3) Contact address and, Phone/fax numbers.

Please Reply me through this email address: arnoldsmartfme@mmail.com

Respectfully Yours,

Mr.Arnold Smart.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
MELRISE INTERNATIONAL LTD.

Anti-fraud resources: