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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: "Dr. Latin." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drlatin16@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 20:29:16 +0700
Subject: I await your prompt reply

Sir,
I got your contact in my search for a partner who can assist facilitate a pending business transaction towards a successful completion. After due considerations, I decided to make contact with you for partnership and co-operation in this pending transaction requiring maximum confidentiality.
I am an Administrative assistant to Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky the Chairman/CEO of YUKOS OIL CORPORATION (Russian Largest Oil Corporation) with branch offices worldwide.
As an assistant to Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, some documents for was handed over to me for the payment of a foreign contractor. Already Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky has released this fund to the offshore account of Yukos Oil Corp from where the final wire transfer is expected to be carried out.
While I was working on the final Approval Documents for transferring the funds, Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested due to his involvement and financial support for the opposition political party in Russia which posed the greatest challenge ever to the former president Vladimir V. Putin who happens to be the current Prime Minister of Russia.
Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky who was considered as the most powerful of the Russian business oligarchs was later prosecuted and sentenced to prison on charges of massive fraud and tax evasion. The Russian government has filed new charges against Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky with an aim of keeping him in prison indefinitely. A wide variety of local & foreign politicians, civil activists and journalists considers the process leading to the imprisonment of Mr. Khodorkovsky to be politically motivated.
Due to the imprisonment of Mr. Khodorkovsky, I have decided to move out some funds for safe keeping and investment. I decided to contact a neutral person for this transaction in order to avoid any trace of the money by the opposition. Therefore, I solicit your help so you can stand as the foreign contractor/beneficiary of the said funds after which we can re-profile the Approval Documents in your favour which would be forwarded to the Paying Bank for the wire transfer of from the Yukos Oil Corp Account to you as final beneficiary.
Upon receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities to see this transaction to successful conclusion. Note that you will be entitled to 15% share of the total funds as your compensation for your assistance. I consequently request your maximum assistance and co-operation to facilitate the transfer of the funds out from the offshore account of Yukos Oil Corporation where the funds were deposited.
In conclusion, I guarantee that this transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. Please keep this transaction confidential and note that this transaction must be concluded within two weeks.
I need you to confirm your participation so we can proceed with this transaction quickly.
I await your prompt reply.
Best Regards,
Dr. Latin.

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