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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: "Joe Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jotoms21@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 20:14:15 +0100
Subject: Compliments of the day to you

Hello,

My name is Joe Thomas from Europe, i am contacting you on a business project proposal. Due to present crisis and circumstance surrounding me, I intend to diversify my investments funds to other lucrative areas. I am writing to you based on my interest in investing into real estate and other businesses in
your country.

I have contacted you on the consideration that I could discuss with you on the possibility of placing some funds with you for management either in your existing establishment, or other venture to be undertaken at your discretion under terms to be agreed upon. And also inquire about the possibility of you handling this investment and management on my behalf in your country.

Please are you willing to be a partner, capable of receiving funds and managing investment on my behalf in your country? Please if you are, do furnish me
more information on the availability of the areas of investment that you know, and if possible we can work out modalities to partner together.

Should you be interested in this proposal, kindly state your interest urgently, to enable me furnish you with more details as soon as I receive your promising and positive response.

Please your earnest and carefully considered response is important, as I anticipate immediate response from you as soon as possible.

Joe Thomas

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