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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: Mike Abass <mikeabass22@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mikeabass14@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 22:53:00 +0000
Subject: Private/Confidential



Private/Confidential

Dear friend,

I write to solicit your assistance in a project of mutual benefit and regret any inconveniences contacting you this way with my proposal.

I am Mike Abass, former Head of Accounts Department at the Diamond Mining Company of Sierra Leone.

I and my partners (two others) are in urgent need of a foreign associate to work with us to facilitate the transfer of a large sum of money which we intend to invest into profitable areas of business in your country. The funds currently secured with central bank of Gambia. Please take note that this money is legitimate and rightfully belongs to me and my partners, which was earned from private diamond business deals during our time as top officials at the Diamond Mining Company of Sierra Leone. Due to unstable political and economic environments in Africa, it is not quite safe investing ones financial future in this part of the world.

We are currently living in Banjul capital city of the Gambia and in collaboration with some top officials of the Central Bank of West Africa have concluded arrangements for the transfer. The money involved is {USD 18.5M} Eighteen million Five hundred thousand US Dollars.

However, as a result of the regulations here, we cannot transfer the funds to your country without having an associate there.

I am writing to know if you could be our overseas associate to handle the transaction privately at your end, whereby the funds shall be transferred through your bank account, for mutual benefits. All aspects of the transaction will be done legitimately from here via the banking process. We propose your commission shall be 30 per cent of the total money been transferred, in view of the importance your role as our overseas partners will be, without which we cannot transfer the funds.

Please consider this proposal and treat it with absolute confidentiality it deserves. However, Please disregard this proposal If you are not in a position to assist or kindly get back to me immediately so I can give you details, your direct telephone number is also important for voice contact. I apologize for taking your time.

Regards,
Mike Abass









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