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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: "Mr. Rufus Young" <rufusyoung2015@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 11:15:53 +0100
Subject: RE: INVESTMENT INQUIRY


RE: INVESTMENT INQUIRY

My dear friend greetings, I am Mr. Rufus Young from London here in UK. I
write to inform you of my interest to invest funds in your country. I got
your contact from your online page and after inquiries at your high
commission here in London, I decided to contact you directly based on
recommendations I received that you are a reliable and hardworking person.
I was also made aware of your country' s political stability,investment
opportunities, secure economic and financial policies, dependable
investment infrastructures, stable and buoyant economy and above all, the
hospitality of your people. It is true that we have not met before, but I
trust that you are an experienced, reliable and trustworthy person with
high standard of honesty and integrity. I know that trust, as a foundation
for business, is earned and not given away lightly. I also know that almost
all international transactions are done on mutual trust, faith and
understanding. I am aware that the internet has been abused by certain
persons making it difficult to establish trust. This is indeed regrettable.
It is also possible that you may have recieved similar letter before but
let me assure you that my contact with you is for a genuine business
relationship that would benefit both of us, and certainly not a hoax that
exist on internet.

Actually, I am seeking means of establishing viable, legal and low risk
business in your country that is capable of generating at least 10% annual
return on investment (ROI) and I want you to assist and guide me and
recommend areas where I can invest profitably since I do not know how
business is done in your country. I want to have you as my partner and
manager and it is going to be a joint business between us after we reach an
understanding. I also want to know if we can invest directly into your own
establishment if you can guarantee safety of fund and if your bylaw allows
foreign direct investment. My preferences are tourism, agriculture, real
estate properties or any other good business that you can recommend. I am
offering you 3% of the fund as commission if you can honestly guide and
cooperate with me to successfully achieve this project soon. I want to
relocate my family and assets to your country and I want you to help me in
finding a good home preferably (a waterfront six bedroom property ) where
we can live in. Please take note that I want absolute confidentiality and
professionalism in the management of this fund. I am ready, willing and
able to invest legally in long term, the sum of (GBP£5.500,000,.00)Five
million Five hundred thousand pounds sterling with you immediately into
areas that you would recommend and I want to know if you can invest and
manage the funds profitably. I can forward evidence of funds to you for
your understanding.

If you believe we can work together on one accord,, please let me know your
thinking immediately, your questions and your conditions for this project
and your interest to partner with me so that I can provide relevant details
and how we can proceed to have a fruitful business relationship. Let me
also know if it is possible to get the money back in the next 8-10 years
while the investment is in progress. My contact emails are
rufusyoung2015@gmail.com (or) rufusyoung2015@hotmail.com My telephones
are : +44 703 198 5960, and +447031926279. I wait for your response as I
look forward to your sincere cooperation. kind regards.
-------------------
NB: Please if you received this letter in your spam folder, It might be due
to connection error. Kindly return to your inbox and reply.

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