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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: Mr Henry <hennn_5678cfavcsadcs@msn.com>
Reply-To: <hrichardson2002@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:38:44 +0000
Subject: Help Me To Transfer and Invest ($16M)GFWQFWQ



















From: Mr. Henry Richardson.
14a Pybus Road Sandton Johannesburg.
South Africa.
Tel + 2779 601 4472

With a warm heart I offer my friendship, and my greetings, and I hope this email letter meets you in good time. I am Mr. Henry Richardson, one of the Directors of Project implementation, South Africa Department of Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the need for an individual/company who will be willing to assist me with a solution to a money transfer.
This amount $16m represents the balance of the total contract Value Executed on behalf of Department mineral resources and Energy by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid.

Should you be willing to assist me in the transaction and the transfer of this amount, I would be offering you a reasonable amount. To enable us commence with this project, I will need you to send me some of your information which should be (1) Your Direct Telephone number (2) Your official or Residential Address in your reply email. This would enable me brief you comprehensively on the project. PLEASE REPLY TO MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS: hrichardson2002@gala.net

Best Regards,
Mr. Henry Richardson
Tel + 2779 601 4472









Anti-fraud resources: