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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: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL <auditorgeneraldept552@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 03:48:22 -0800
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam,

Dear Sir/Madam,

Compliment of the season, I got your contact information from a
reputable business/professional directory of your country which gives
me assurance of your legibility as a person, I send you this brief
letter to solicit your partnership to transfer the sum of (US$35.5m)
Thirty Five Million five hundred thousand dollars to your country.

I am Engineer Khumalo Benson, a director of Projects with the South
African Ministry of Minerals and Energy Resources. I am making this
contact with you based on the committee's need for an
individual/company who is willing to assist us transfer the said
amount for oversea investment.

Kindly notify me by E-mail, your secured telephone and fax number for
further details upon your acceptance of this proposal, this will
enable me call and mail you further details for your understanding
before we commerce. This transaction is risk free.

Thanking for your anticipated co-operation,

Best Regards,

Engr. Khumalo Benson

Anti-fraud resources: