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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: "Phil Cohen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cmaloisafrica@consultant.com>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2018 04:53:08 -0500
Subject: ***SPAM*** Re: CONTRACT

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
This proposal might come to you as a surprise, since it is from someone you do not know or have seen before, but based on faith, I had to contact you believing that you are reputable and as such you cannot run away with my own share of this money when concluded.
 
I am MR.PHIL COHEN the director and coordinator of the Finance Contract Department of Minerals and Energy with South Africa Government. The crux of this letter is that the finance / contract department of the DME deliberately over-inflated the contract values of various contract awarded.
 
In the course of disbursement, I was able to track down the sum of US$50 Million as the over invoiced sum. This money is now floating in the DME domiciliary account with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
I want to quickly transfer this fund to a safe nominated foreign account for possible investment abroad. We are not allowed as a matter of government policy to operate any foreign account because of our status as civil / public servants. Hence the needs to solicit for a partner abroad to enable me transfer this money into your bank account abroad. Upon your acceptance of this proposal, I want us to share the funds in the following sharing percentages
1.        25% for you as the account owner
2.        70% for me
3.        5% will be set aside to defray all incidental expenses both locally and internationally during the course of this transaction. Furthermore, I shall be coming over to your country when the money is
finally in your account and I shall be relying on your advice as regards to investment of our share. Be informed that this business is genuine and 100% safe considering the high-powered government officials involved:
 
Your Full names, company name and address.Your telephone number for effective communication
 
This is to affect the swift transfer of this fund into your account in less than seven (7) working days. Contact me strictly via my email address, while looking forward to a healthy business relationship with you.
 
Yours Faithfully,
MR.PHIL COHEN.
Please kindly reply me on my private email : cmaloisafrica@consultant.com
 

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