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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: "Kaarl Bent" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kaarlbent@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 19:22:45 -0800
Subject: ATTN:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
I got your contact in my search for a reliable partner. Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky is looking to work with a reputable individual/firm to mop up and place funds into viable investment ventures in your Country and perhaps with your assistance, we could evade high taxes.

I am a staff/member of the inner circle of Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky (the former Chairman/CEO of Yukos Oil Company) who was imprisoned in Russia on false charges of fraud and tax evasion by the current Russian President Mr. Vladimir V. Putin.
Now that Mr. Khodorkovsky is a free man again, it is time to complete the Multi-Million transaction. For the purpose of confidentiality, the initial foreign company name listed as beneficiary belongs to Mr. Khodorkovsky and with current event, this company name cannot be used in other not to put the contract payment at risk.
I will give you more details when you reply.

Best Regards,
Kaarl Bent.
Assistant to Mr. Khodorovsky,
Moscow , Russia.

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