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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: Alfred Mensah <mr_alfred0100@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <alfredmens_01@gawab.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:18:59 +0000
Subject: Greetings



Hello:
Compliments of the day.Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and writing through this unofficial channel.
I got your contact from the professional database found in internet and would like to know more about you as I have resolved to specially seek for a trustworthy individual or company whom I can trust to transact this business with and who can keep secrets.My name is Mr.Alfred Mensah of Accra,Republic of Ghana,working as Chairman,Contract-Awarding Committee in a known institution in africa called (AU) AFRICAN UNION with its fundheadquarters in Accra Ghana.I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of $6,720,000.00 million U.S dollars only.
This fund was a residue of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us intentionally for the supply of hard/soft wares, pharmaceuticals/medical items, light and heavy duty vehicles,apparels and other administrative/logistics for the peace keeping talks in Sierra-Leone and Liberia during the Peace Keeping Projects.As an officer of the organization,I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account on our behalf.
Could you be kind enough to render your services in this regard, you shall be rewarded with 30% of the total sum.I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this.
If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response to my private email address (alfredmens_01@gawab.com)
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Alfred Mensah.



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