419 scam: "Denis"<princedenis@megamail.pt> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTEN

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Denis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pdenis1999@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:37:44 +0200
Subject: THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTEN

Dearest, One

First of all I will like to thank you for given your attention to read my mail and for your interest, I pray that my plan with you shall be of good success. Well, I will go ahead to explain little about myself,
I am Master. Prince Denis, from Monrovia Liberia in West Africa. There is crisis in my country so I ran to Benin Republic in a city known as Cotonou where I am contacting you today.
I am 19yrs old and was in school when my Father and my Mother with my only sister were born down with fire under the leadership of former president Charles Tailor, when he refused to step down for another govemenmt.I was the only surviving child left now.
My father Dr James Denis was a diamond And gold dealer and was one of those people who was revolting against the leadership of Mr. Charles Tailor. One day he sent his boys to set our house on fire killing my parents and my younger sister . I was so lucky to be in school,
when they set our house on fire that was how I survived. I have meant our family lawyer and I have find out that my Late father deposited so much fund for my brighter future, he left in my possession for my future plan and of his direction in his will .
The reason why I am contacting you is to know if

I can really obtain a favour from you to go into a good plan of investment in your own country.
I have no idea of investment that is the main reason why
I ask for your attention for your advise and to stand behind me to invest my inheritance in your country.

My father left Nine million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$9.5m ) for me in a bank.
If you wish to be of this assistance to me, pls do tell me more about yourself for me to also know you
better and also your words of advice for the procedure of this transaction.
I have made up my mind concern the area of rewarding you 15 percent of the total
fund as soon as the fund is been transferred to your position. please

Thanks and Best regards.
Prince Denis

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam