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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: "Dr.Benjamin Sagoe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sagoeb@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2014 14:43:28 -0700
Subject: Good Day

Good Day,
 
I am a mining services consultant.  I am 46 years old male (I shall provide you with more details on my background later).  I have worked for South Africa department of mineral and energy as project director. At the moment, I am a consultant for several mining companies advising them on liquefied natural gas exports and storage but the government wants me to be the new spoke person of South African airways (SAA)
 
The South Africa economy has witnessed a steady growth since the end of Apartheid. Within the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources where I worked as director of Auditing and Project Implementation, Mining and Quarrying alone contributes 12.3% GDP (R25.9Billion), Gold made up R19.9Billion of the yearly export while Base metals and other mineral products contribute R6.7Billion and R5.0Billion respectively. This figure excludes Diamond, which is quoted separately.
 
The Government has continuously strived to improve and maintain good relationship with foreign governments and Non-Governmental financial agencies by ensuring payments for all debts owed to foreign contractors. As a matter of fact, the Government has sponsored several trade delegations overseas to improve and attract foreign investments to South Africa.
 
I write, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to tune of Forty-Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$45.7) which we want to keep safely overseas under your supervision. In other words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf. The Funds were derived over time from a project awarded to a foreign firm by my Department, and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the original project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principle obtained approval to remit overseas.
 
Currently, as a Director of Projects at The Department of Minerals & Energy here in Pretoria, though Im in UK for a short holiday because my family are also here. We have the authority and approval of my partners involved in this transaction to compensate you with 25% for your participation.
 
This endeavor has a minimal risk factor on your part provided you treat it with the utmost discretion. You are advised to back for further clarification.
 
I await in anticipation your fullest co-operation.
 
Dr.Benjamin Sagoe
Director, Project Implementation.
Email:  benjamins@gmail.co.za
TEL:   +44 203-290- 7856
 

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