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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "youssefu karim" <youssefukarim54@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr_youssefukarim@inbox.com
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:17:01 +0200
Subject: URGENT FROM THE MINISTRE DE LA CONSTRUCTION.


URGENT FROM THE MINISTRE DE LA CONSTRUCTION.

ATTN: CEO

I AM SORRY TO ENCROACH INTO YOUR PRIVACY IN THIS MANNER; MEANWHILE I AM
CONTACTING YOU FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE YOU DID NOT RESPOND IN MY FIRST
EMAIL SENT TO YOU.
I AM INTERESTED IN THE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT PROGRAM WITH YOUR CORPORATION.

FIRST PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS MINISTER; YOUSSEFU KARIM. MINISTRE DE
LA CONSTRUCTION OF WESTERN SAHARA STATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (A TINY
ISLAND DESERT).BEING THE EXECUTIVE MINISTER OF MY STATE.
I AWARDED THE CONTRACT OF IRRIGATION TO PORTUGUESE FIRM WORTHY SEVERAL
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IN THE EXECUTION OF THAT PROJECT THE (PORTUGUESE FIRM) DISCOVERED LARGE
AMOUNT OF GOLD IN ONE OF THE CONTRACT SITE.

I COLLABORATED WITH THE PORTUGUESE FIRM ON A MUTUAL AGREEMENT ON THE PROCEED
OF WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED MY SHARE OF 25.8 MUSD.
AS THE MINISTER, I CANNOT INTRODUCE OR CIRCULATE THESE FUNDS INTO THE
WESTERN SAHARA BANKING SYSTEM CONSIDERING MY PROVISIONAL DUTY AND THE
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I EARN LESS THAN 1,000US $ DOLLARS MONTHLY COUPLED
WITH THE BUREAU OF CONDUCT GUIDE LINES AND REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC CIVIL
SERVANTS.

THE ABOVE SITUATION PROMPTED MY DECISION TO SOLICIT YOUR CO-OPERATION TO
TAKE DELIVERY OF THIS FUNDS INTO YOUR CUSTODY FOR MY PROPOSED INVESTMENT, AS
YOU WILL BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED WITH $ 7.500,000 MILLIONS WHICH IS THE
30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS.
I WILL ARRANGE ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN ENSURING A SMOOTH PROCESS FOR THE
FUNDS TO GET TO YOU.
I WILL APPRECIATE YOU CONTACT ME ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS FAX VIA MY SATELLITE
PHONE ABOVE INDICATING YOUR CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO ENABLE ME TO GIVE
YOU MORE DETAILS OF MY MODUS OPERANDI OF GETTING THIS MONEY TO YOU HITCH
FREE.
THIS MATTER REQUIRES YOUR URGENT ATTENTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY WHATEVER YOUR
DECISION.

YOUR SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY YOU FINISH READING THIS LETTER WITH THE
INFORMATION BELOW.
1) YOUR HOME AND OFFICE ADDRESS....
2) YOUR OCCUPATION ............
3) YOUR AGE............
4) YOUR PRIVET TELEPHONE NUMBER...........
5) YOUR NATIONALITY................

IF INSTERETED OR NOT PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THIS E-MAIL ADDRES
dr_youssefukarim@inbox.com IMMEDIATELY
BEST REGARDS,
MINISTER; YOUSSEFU KARIM.

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