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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: "Khaldoun Abdelhaq Ahmed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akhaldounabdelhaqq@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:42:05 +0800
Subject: How can I invest in your country

Dear Sir,

Peace be unto you.

I am interested in establishing investment portfolios in your country. However, I have very limited knowledge as to what might be viable or not. And I am contacting you for assistance in this regard being that you are resident and understand the dynamics of your economy.

My preference would be any real estate but I willing to settle on any good investment with good profit turn over and short to medium turn around times. I would appreciate any assistance you might give me in this regard. I am proposing to invest Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$ 50,000,000.00) with your assistance.

By way of introduction, my name isMohammad Wasem, a Moroccan based in Ghana. Before my "forced retirement", my main line of business was shipping (bulk cargo and containerized). I am married with 4 children.

I was forced to retire from my shipping business because of a sustained tremendous drop in profits. The drop was such that my company had to declare bankruptcy. It is my believe that unseen hands quickened the demise of the company. Excessive tax elements also did not help. The said elements are still at work investigating me for tax evasions that did not occur and the persecution has now made so desperate that I am turning to a total stranger, like you, to assist me in my quest to move from Ghana and invest abroad.

My foremost intention is to acquire a property where I will live with my family and if we agree on terms of your assistance, I would then move the 50 million dollars to any account of your choice under your name. You may rest assured that I have secured the services of a Lawyer who will assist in the transaction. His job would be to ensure that the paper work is flawless and done in such a manner as would not connect my name to the transaction.

He will also ensure that the right kind of paper work is acquired to protect all parties involved, including you. Not that there is any danger to your person or myself, but given my past experiences, it always pays to be extra careful. You must know that this fund is the only thing standing between me and abject poverty so you would understand my paranoia for things being done right.

Of course I am more than willing to offer you a reasonable percentage of the sum total for your assistance. If you are in the capacity to assist me, please let me know through my alternate email address: mowasem@gmail.com so I can send you further details. also, kindly email me a phone number to reach you on. Until I hear from, do please accept my heart felt best wishes for peace profound.

I am, with very kind regards,

Mohammad Wasem

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