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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: "Mr makko adam" <makko_adam@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:07:44 +0700
Subject: Investment Collaboration

ATTENTION: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEAR SIR

COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY, BEFORE I PROCCED, I MUST BE
GRATEFUL TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I AM MR. MAKKO ADAM , I
WAS FORMERLY PERSONAL AIDE TO ONE OF THE TOP MINISTER
OF THE SIERRA-LEONIAN GOVERNMENT, PRIOR TO THE TIME OF
CRISIS WHICH IS PRESENTLY ON, AND I GOT YOUR CONTACT
FROM A DIRECTORY I HAVE JUST ACQUIRED. DUE TO MY
POSITION, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME AWAY WITH A
REASONABLE SUM OF MONEY AND I HAVE TENDENCY TO INVEST
THIS MONEY IN A COMPANY WITH A GOOD LINE OF PRODUCTS
LIKE YOUR OWN COMPANY WITH POTENTIALS FOR A GOOD
CAPITAL RETURNS; AND SINCE YOUR COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE
MOST INVESTOR-FRIENDLY ENVIROMENT IN THE WORLD, I HAVE
MADE UP MY MIND TO LIVE AND RUN BUSINESS THERE.

I WOULD THEREFORE LIKE YOU TO HELP ME IN EVERY
POSSIBLE WAY IN SECURING THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY,
ALSO YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN FINDING A GOOD BUSINESS I
WILL INVEST THIS MONEY. HOWEVER UPON YOUR ACCEPTANCE,
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COME TO BANGKOK FOR A MEETING,
THIS WILL ENABLE US TO KNOW OURSELVES BETTER AND
FINALLY MOVE THIS MONEY TO YOUR COUNTRY.

IN VIEW OF YOUR PARTICIPATION, I AM READY TO GIVE YOU
A GOOD NEGOTIABLE PERCENTAGE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, OR
BETTER STILL COMMIT IT INTO JOINT VENTURE PROJECTS.
BE ASSURED THAT YOU STAND NO RISK OF ANY KIND AS THE
FUNDS BELONG TO ME ONLY. AS SOON AS I GET YOUR
CONSENT, I WILL QUICKLY MOVE THIS TO YOUR COUNTRY AND
FINALLY MOVE MY FAMILY OVER THERE ASWELL.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ASSOCIATING WITH YOU TO EMBARK
ON THIS AND OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES WILL DERIVE A HUGE
SUCCESS HEREAFTER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION DO NOT
HESITATE TO INCLUDE SAME IN YOUR REPLY.

BEST REGARDS
MR ADAM



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