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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Afonso Dos Santos <yvk2k@netscape.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:26:21 +0200
Subject: Afonso Dos Santos


Dear sir,
I am the translator to the former Prime Minister of Sao Tome (Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa ) and Principe in Africa.I am contacting you on behalf of my her.

My name is Afonso dos Santos. We have some funds in financial instrument valued at $22.5million(united states dollars.

Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa (born 1958) is a former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe. She held the post of Prime Minister from 3 October 2002 until 18 September 2004, and was the nation's first female head of government. She is also a member of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD). Before becoming head of government, Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance and in the African Development Bank. She held major government posts as Minister of Economics (1999-2001) and of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (2002).
 
I am contacting you as regards investment in your country ,these funds can be used for investment within the next ten years. Any business that is profitable and viable in your country, subject to accounts and audit.
 
The profit after tax and other miscellaneous expenses, will be splited at the end of every fiscal year.
 
Please I will like to know if you interested in this proposal by responding to this email. Thanks as I await your response.
 
Yours Faithfully
Afonso Dos Santos

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