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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mathewriaan@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:24:39 +0200
Subject: BANK INVESTMENT!!

ATTN: CEO / Managing Director,
 
It is my pleasure to contact you discreetly as to discuss a mutually beneficial business; I will want to have your trust and to go into partnership investment with you which must be built on confidentiality between us.I am the Contract Award Director of with a South African Government Department; my office is in charge of awarding contracts to international contractors, building and handling of government contract throughout the country.
I am in the position to transfer the sum of US$17M of which I have written a memo informing the Government that this fund belongs to a Contractor waiting to be paid his contract sum; I want to transfer and invest this fund into your company as an investment fund from South Africa to your country. The fund will be shared on the ratio of 60-40%; 40% for you on the assistance rendered.
 
Please note that this fund will not be investigated or recalled in the near future as all documents to move this fund to your account will be legally obtained. You are to send me your company's name and address with your banking details where you want the fund to be transferred to.
As soon as you agree to my proposition, I will send you my number to reach me. I want you to keep this private to yourself.
Be assured that this is a legitimate fund and will be transferred legitimately.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Yours
Mr. Riaan Mathews
Office eMail::mathewriaanza@engineer.com
Personal eMail: mathewriaan@gmail.com
Tel/Wassp::27:71 700 7449
 

Anti-fraud resources: