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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: robert owusu <robertowusu_001@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 07:41:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOLD OFFER


DEAR SIR,
I,MR ROBERT OWUSU, FROM OBUASI TOWN GHANA WEST AFRICA, WE
HAVE GOLD MINIG SITE OF WHICH WE HAVE ABOUT 1500KG OF GOLD DUST AND 20 TONS OF GOLD BRING STONE,WAITING FOR BUYERS.
SO IF YOU ARE A GOLD DEALER PLEASE JUST SEND TO ME YOUR CONTACT.
OUR PRICE IS $7,500 USD PER KG, BUT IF YOU CAN BE GETING BUYER FOR US YOU WILL BE GETING %5 AS WE SELL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
REGARDS,
MR ROBERT OWUSU,



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