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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 Smith H Mpoyo" <ukdesk@mondetube.com>
Reply-To: dr.smithmpoyo@jmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:28:28 +0300
Subject: [spam] Re: From Dr.Smith Mpoyo (Treat As Very Urgent Please Reply) $28.5m
To Be Transfer To Your Acount

I am Dr.Smith Mpoyo, Director of Project , South Africa Department of
Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the
Committee need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with
a solution to a money
transfer. This amount $28.5m represents the balance of the total contract
Value
Executed on behalf of Department 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 us in the transaction? Your share of
the
sum will be 25% of the $28.5 million, 70% for us and 5% for taxation and
miscellaneous
expenses. To enable us commence, I will need your personal telephone/fax
number. Please send your response to dr.smithmpoyo@jmail.co.za OR
dr.smithmpoyo@outlook.com
I await your immediate response.
Best Regards,
Dr.Smith Mpoyo

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