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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: "Eric Owen" <ericowen32@yahoo.com.sg> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ericowen31@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:08:00 +0100
Subject: Hoping to hear from you

Hello Sir,

I would very much be interested in having some investments in your country as it is a place I suppose it's economy is very stable coupled with it's viable business environment. To be Honest and precise too, I would like to invest in the real estate sector of the economy. However, I will need somebody on the ground over there to handle this for me. More so, as I am not very much conversant with the culture of your country.

My names is Eric Owen, Like I said earlier, I wish to invest in the real estate sector of your country's economy,I do not travel out much and as such, I would like to have some one on the ground there to handle everything at the other end on my behalf.

If you can handle the logistics, source for and negotiate for prime properties on my behalf for a commission. As such you can handle so that I will have to contact my lawyer we will make proposals on how I will send you every required finance for you to start off as long as you are a very honest and reliable person. If not let me know so that I will contact another person who is reliable and can handle such for me. More so, contact me if you have another business proposal in your country that I can invest in under your supervision and control.,please i will like you to email me back through my email thus;(ericowen31@yahoo.com.sg).I <mailto:ericowen31@yahoo.com.sg).I> will be waiting to recieve your reply soon,

Ensure to contact me as soon as possible.
God Bless you.

Regards,

Eric Owen,




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