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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: Bernard Mve <bernardmve12@airsoftmail.com>
Reply-To: bernardmve@airsoftmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:04:05 +0200
Subject: READ AND THANKS

ATTENTION: THE PRESIDENT/CEO

DEAR SIR,

MY NAME IS Bernard Mve,I AM A TOP OFFICIAL IN THE GABON OIL MINISTRY.

I AM LOOKING FOR A FOREIGN ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION
DOLLERS INTO
THIS MONEY IS FROM COMMISSIONS MADE FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL.

BUT AS A GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANT,I AM NOT ALLOWED BY THE LAWS OF MY
COUNTRY TO
MAKE/TAKE COMMISSIONS AND ALSO TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT ANYWHERE
THAT MAKES
IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO RECEIVE THE MONEY.

YOU WILL BE PRESENTED AS A COMMISSION AGENT AND THE MONEY WILL THEN BE
TRANSFERED TO YOUR ACCOUNT/BANK DETAILS.
THIS TRANSACTIONS IS WELL PLANNED.

YOU WILL TAKE ONLY TWENTY PERCENT OF THE MONEY FOR PROVIDING THE REQUIRED
ACCOUNT/BANK DETAILS.

IN YOUR REPLY INCLUDE YOUR MOBILE/PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR MORE
CONFIDENTIAL DETAILS.
REPLY URGENTLY SO THAT WE CAN CONCLUDE EARLY.

BEST REGARDS,
Bernard Mve.






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