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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: SMART ANDERSON <andersonsmartjohn956@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2022 01:30:21 -0700
Subject: RE-INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FROM SMART


Dear Sir,

Good day sir, and how are you doing today? I guess you are doing fine.

My name is Smart Andersom from South Africa and I work with the South
African department of aviation as a contract evaluation officer.

My reason for contacting you is based on my interest in investment ventures
in your country, because I may retire from active service any moment from
now, and would like to ascertain from you if we both could partner together
for our mutual benefit.

Secondly the sum of Fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars (US$15.5
MUSD) has been budgeted for the investment plan and the fund emanated
through an over invoice contract we awarded to a foreign firm some years
back from my department and the contract has been completed and
commissioned by the South Africa government so the over invoice sum has
just been approved to paid out to us and having resolved to channel my own
share into investment venture in your country I would like my own share to
be transferred out of South Africa to your custody in your country for the
investment purpose and as soon as you confirmed the fund in your account, I
will make a proper arrangement to meet with you in your country for
detailed discussion to investment plan.

Again owing to the amount involved, I would like to ascertain from you if
you have the financial capability to handle amount of such magnitude
because I wouldn’t want anything that will raise an eyebrow when the fund
is finally transferred to your bank account in your country.

More so, as soon as you indicate your interest to work with me, I will use
my position here to procure all the relevant payment approval documents in
your name as a subcontractor with my department, the documents will
authenticate the transfer of the fund into your nominated bank account in
your country.

More details will be shared with you as soon as you indicate your interest
in this great venture.

Have a nice day,

Smart Anderson

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