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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: "ROM MR FREEMAN MOMOH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <freemanmomhatrefugee1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:10:06 +0200
Subject: MASSAGE FROM MR FREEMAN MOMOH

FROM   FREEMAN  MOMOH
NO 364 ORANGE GROOVE
JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
REPLY ME TO THIS EMAIL:freemanmomhatrefugee1@gmail.com
TEL   0027837507305
 
ATTN: 
             
                          INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
           
I AM MR. FREEMAN  MOMOH, A SIERRA LEONEAN AND SON OF THE LATE CAPTAIN FODAY NASINGA MOMOH OFFICER IN CHARGE OF PURCHASING ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT (RUF) THAT WAS FIGHTING TO UNSEAT THE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SIERRA LEONE MR. TEJAN
KABBAH. MY LATE FATHER WAS AMONG THE ARMS OFFICERS WHO DIED IN DETAINTION AS A RESULT OF HIS ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF MAJOR JOHNY PAUL KOROMAH WHO WAS THE (RUF) LEADER IN SIERRA LEONE BUT NOW IN EXILE FOLLOWING THE FALL OF HIS GOVERNMENT.
 
BEFORE MY FATHER'S EXECUTION WHILE IN DETAINTION, MY MOTHER AND I WERE INVITED TO MEET WITH HIM. IT WAS DURING THIS UGLY MOMENT THAT HE REVEALED TO ME THAT HE HAS THE SUM OF US$19M (NINETEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN PACKS OF US$100 BILLS DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY FIRM IN SOUTH AFRICA IN HIS PERSONAL NAMES.
 
THE MONEY WAS MEANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR THE (RUF)BUT DUE TO LACK OF BANKING FACILITIES IN TIAMA WHERE THEY HAD THEIR MILITARY BASE AND THE ENCROACHMENT OF THE WEST AFRICAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY MONITORY GROUP (ECOMOG), SO MY FATHER HAD TO
LIFT THE MONEY IN A LARGE TRUCK BOX TO SOUTH AFRICA TO
ENABLE THEM CONCLUDE THE LOGISTICS FOR THE PURCHASE.
 
MY MOTHER LATE MRS. PATRICIA MMA MOMOH DIED WITH MY ONLY SISTER IN A BOMBSHELL WHILE PRAYING IN A CHURCH IN OUR SUBURBS 15 DAYS AFTER MY FATHER WAS EXECUTED. I HAD TO LEAVE SIERRA LEONE WITH MY YOUNG BROTHER (JOHN) TO SOUTH AFRICA, AND I HAVE SINCE MY ARRIVAL HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA CONTACTED THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TRANSFERRED THE DEPOSITS FROM MY FATHER'S NAME TO MY OWN NAME.
                          MY INTENTION
AFTER A CAREFUL STUDY OF YOUR BUSINESS OUTFIT THROUGH SOUTH AFRICAN INFORMATION EXCHANGE SALES HERE. I MUST HAVE TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE ACQUIRED OVER THE YEARS IN DIVERSE FIELD OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT. I AM THEREFORE LEFT WITH NO
DOUBT THAT ONE IS GOING TO ENJOY A HAPPY AND FRUITFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU CONSIDERING YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE. AND SEQUEL TO THE ABOVE, I INTED AND REQUEST AS FOLLOWING:-
1. TO INVEST THE ENTIRE US$19M WITH YOUR ESTABLISHMENT
2. THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF US$19M SHOULD BE FOR A
PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS
3. THAT MY BROTHER AND I HAVE RIGHT TO RETRIEVE THE PLACEMENT AFTER A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS OR WITHDRAW THE PLACEMENT IN FULL.
4. THE PROFIT OF THIS INVESTMENT OVER THE FIVE (5) YEARS SHOULD BE SHARED 60% TO US AND 40% TO YOU.
5. THIS INVESTMENT MUST BE MADE OUTSIDE AFRICA AND MUST BE UNDER INSURANCE COVER AND IN THE VIEW OF THE ABOVE, I HAVE DRAFTED SUITABLE MUTUAL AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL BE FAXED TO TOUR REVIEW AND
COMMENTS.
 
YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON THE ABOVE PHONE NUMBERS. AND PLEASE DO KEEP ALL DETAILS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
 
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND DUE CONSIDERATION.
 
BEST REGARDS,
 
FREEMAN MOMOH
 

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