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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: "Jane Keating, Ms." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jkeatinggc@rediffmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:08:55 -0000
Subject: Re: Investment Inquiry

Hello,

My Name is Jane Keating. I represent a private law chamber here in Blaydon on Tyne, England. We would like to reach terms with you on investment prospects. Nevertheless, permit me to take a few minutes of your precious time. We have a client whose intents is to invest into prolific ventures abroad by seeking "willing" emissary as an alliance by partnering with him in cultivating his investment plans. Basically, the investor who has no fore-knowledge of propagating his ideas offshore yearns for diverse ideas of investment in achieving his vision.

Our client, faced with cumbersome problem of unstable investment environment in his home country has asked our firm to see how we could get him an emissary as a trustee in initiating his investment idea with his capital, hence our letter to you to seek partnership with him in realising his vision. Our client's motive is also to ensure that this project yields good returns.

I'm willing to go further but for certainty and your willingness in partnering with my client; I shall be honoured to direct you to our superior who is presently in South Africa revamping Africa for possible investment opportunities. Upon response to this inquiry, we're willing to redirect you to our superior to enlighten you more upon certainty, willingness and eligibility of your credibility and expertise in partnering with our client, else if you find yourself unfit, so to speak, please disregard this email.

An urgent response would be appreciated!

Yours truly,

Jane Keating, Ms.

Anti-fraud resources: