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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: rev_mensah45@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:54:09 +0530 (IST)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: rev_mensah36@yahoo.in



- Dear Beloved,With apologies for interference in your privacy I am Reverend Paulinus mensah a director of New Era Foundation.I am writing you in regard to a good friend of mine and founder of the New Era Foundation,who was a foreigner and the managing director of an investment firm here in Ghana Unfortunately my friend died in 2006,He established these foundation to help less privileged minority people in our society which he was doing before the unfortunate death of its founder.I am to conduct a standard process Investigation/Recommendation on his assets and deposits, it was discovered that he deposited some valuable items including the sum of $14 million dollars with a security company here in Ghana as a consignment generated from aids from philantropist and charity organizations for the foundtaion.The security company contacted me a month ago as the director of his foundation and a trustee to recommend a next of kin to the funds since he (Our Late founder) died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the fund deposit made with the security company.Owing to my position in my church and the Organization, i may not participate fully in this transaction as everything will be handed over to a lawyer on my directives.The essence of this communication with you is to request that you provide me with information/comments on any or all of the four issues as regards nominating you to inherit the fund left behind since you are a foreigner eligible enough to stand for claims of the funds. I have therefore contacted you to be legally nominated as next of kin (inheritor) to Our Late founder after all inquiries and investigation even with the relevant embassy has yielded results showing that there is no known or living next of kin. You are required therefore to answer this questions to enable me make my recommendation to the security company.-Can you confirm your willingness to accept this inheritance if you are legally and legitimately nominated through my recommendation to the company and approved to stand as inheritor to this funds. -Would you agree to donate 70% of this inheritance to our charity organization and 10% to a known less privilege foundation in your country if you are officially recommended to the company in my powers to stand as the inheritor? Then, the rest 20% will be your reward for your benevolent assistance.It is pertinent that you inform me ASAP whether or not you are familiar with this personality or and your interest towards the issues mentioned.You must appreciate that I am constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point. Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford me the opportunity to provide you with more information on this matter upon your consent to proceed with the recommendation of your person to the company as the inheritor of the funds.Thank you for accommodating this inquiry.Remain Blessed.Rev.Paulinus Mensah.


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