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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: "Gomez Arlindo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gomez.arlindo@sunumail.sn>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:09:53 +0100
Subject: FUNDS INVESTOR NEEDED

Good Morning,

In the year 2004 our company First Premium Petroleum Oil & Gas Inc. executed a consultancy and supplies contract with the government of Sao Tome & Principe worth $14.5 million. Presently the funds have been approved for payment. We however do not have confidence in our former representatives because of their attempted blackmail that failed.

You are therefore being contacted to act as our representative in order to get the funds out as we are still in public service therefore prohibited from owning a company in this category or operating a foreign account. We are proposing 10% remuneration for your participation and 5% set aside for expenses. 70% of the remaining will be kept in your care for further investment purpose in your country, while the remaining 15% will be sent to us in Sao Tome for further improvement of the company and settlement of our debts here.

However, you do not need to be here physically in order to do your job. You also bear no risk in this partnership. All we need is your full cooperation and commitment to this course.We sincerely hope this proposal meets you in the perfect frame of mind. Whether or not this proposal is accepted by you, we plead that it remains top secrete to you as we anticipate your urgent response.

Yours sincerely,

Gomez Arlindo.

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