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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 Goodman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomgoodman.private@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 02:52:42 -0400
Subject: Request for your maximum assistance

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.
For more details, please follow this links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Khodorkovsky
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/20/mikhail-khodorkovsky-russia-richest-man

Before the arrest of Mr. Mikhail Khodorovsky, we where in the process to complete the documentations for the payment of US$500 Million for contract execution under Yukos, while working on the issuance of the approval documents for payment Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested which led to the suspension of this payment.
Mr. Khodorkovsky was released from prison on 20th December, 2013, he is reuniting with family.

Now that Mr. Khodorkovsky is a free man again, it is time to complete the US$500 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 of US$500 Million at risk.

I solicit your help so you can stand as the foreign contractor/beneficiary of the said funds after which we can re-profile the Approval documents with your details to secure the payment of US$500 Million to you as beneficiary. Upon receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities to see this transaction to successful conclusion.

Note that you will be entitled to 30% share of the total funds as your compensation for your assistance. I consequently request your maximum assistance and co-operation to facilitate the release of the funds to you.

In conclusion, I guarantee that this transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of international law and note that this transaction must be concluded within two weeks.

If you cannot assist then I will suggest that you introduce anyone you consider trustworthy and capable to work with me on this transaction.

Finally, but most importantly, I beseech you not to utter the slightest word about Mr. Khodorovsky to anyone necessary to keep him safe.

I await your prompt reply as soon as possible via my direct email: thomgoodman.private@gmail.com

Best Regards,

Thomas Goodman
Phone No.: +447937128984

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