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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: "Thomas Eso." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akins2008@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2016 20:47:23 +0100
Subject: MY GOOD OLD FRIEND.

Dear Old Friend,
I find it quite difficult to retrieve your email address from other source having disabled my old email account after you expressed in-depth apathy for our pending transaction as it were. 
 
I write to let you know that my plans for you to receive the funds in your bank account for investment purposes was later actualized as the bank eventually released funds. I totally understood that you could not pay the upfront charges as required because you were scared of being scammed. However, I still value the role you played at the preliminary stage of the transaction that geared the swift approval of the funds and of course, the financing role by a new partner afterwards. I have decided to compensate you with the sum of US$2, 000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars) for your passionate commitment that made my success story possible today.
You are therefore advised to notify my senior special assistant who I have instructed to see to the release of your US$2M. My initial arrangement with you was to invest the funds in your country as soon as the transaction is successful; now, I did invest in cocoa farming & coffee export with some Chinese counterparts, and I have license to export Diamonds to Europe and Asia which is my core investment. In addition to the US$2M, I will also introduce your name on the payroll where you will be earning a good retirement dividend income.
My special assistant can be reached with the below information.
Contact Name: Wang Choi Lee.
Email: safehouse19600@gmail.com.
Address: Stationsplein, 2072 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Be advised to direct your further inquires to him as he is looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers!!
Thomas Eso.

Anti-fraud resources: