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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: Attahmills Godwin <godwinattahmills@insing.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:13:54 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANT


*HELLO''
I AM GODWIN ATTAHMILLS A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT FROM REPUBLIC OF GHANA, I HAVE
THE MANDATE OF AN EMINENT PERSONALITY AND TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO WILL
LIKE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS TO SOLICIT FOR RELIABLE INDIVIDUALS /INVESTORS TO
HELP HIM INVEST SOME FUND WHICH AMOUNTED TO $28.7M USD,ON HIS BEHALF IN ANY
LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.

HE HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN YOUR AREA OF BUSINESS AND YOUR COMPANY.AND ANY
OTHER BUSINESS INVESTMENT YOU MAY DIM FIT FOR GOOD INVESTMENT RETURN. ADVICE
AS FOLLOWS,HOTEL MANAGEMENT,REAL HOUSING ESTATE,HOUSE AND PROPERTIES LOCATED
IN GOOD AREAS IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR GUEST HOUSE BUT WE ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED
TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY. THAT WILL BRING POSTERITY, YOU WILL
LOOK AFTER THE INVESTMENT PROJECT,BASED ON THE TERMS AGREED BY BOTH PARTIES
ON PERCENTAGE.

ADVISE ON YOUR INTEREST TO PARTNER WITH US ON THIS PROJECT AND AREA OF
BUSINESS YOU CAN ALSO ADVICE US ON A GOOD BUSINESS VENTURE YOU MAY BE
INTERESTED TO HANDLE. TO ENABLE ME GIVE YOU FURTHER DETAILS ON HOW TO
PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT, ALSO INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION .

THANKS.
MR GODWIN ATTAHMILLS*

Anti-fraud resources: