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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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Fraud email example:

From: "oronto douglas" <o_douglas@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 02:10:51 +0000
Subject: SEARCHING FOR A RELIABLE PERSON .

Dear Sir/Madam,

Compliments of the day. I hope that this letter does not surprise you
because we have not met. However, I urge you to treat the information which
it contains with due and utmost attention. Apart from being eternally
grateful to you, I also assure that you shall be adequately
compensated.

My name is Mrs Oronto Douglas. I am the wife of Mr.Noel Douglas who served
as the chief security officer to president Kabah of Sierra Leone.
Unfortunately, my husband was killed During the over throw of 24th December
1997.

I came to know of you in my search of a reliable person to handle a very
confidential business transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum
of $usd12 million (Twelve million US dollars) which was deposited in a
finance house ,the former president Tijan Kabah gave him this money for safe
keeping when he got information that the militaries were planning to over
throw him(KABAH).Unfortunately,my husband was killed in that coup detract,
and I am the only person who has all the legal documents to claim this
money.

My husband gave me all the legal documents that covers this fund days before
his death. I was waiting for things to cool down before making my move but
the recent crisis in my country has forced me to make the move now.

Now, i and my son is in refugee camp in Nigeria. Right now, the money is in
a safe place.I am using this opportunity to seek for your assistance to
transfer this money into your account to be invested in your country. All
you need to do is to forward to me an account where this money will be sent
to so that I can send my son (MICHAEL)to come over to your country for
investment.

We don't have any business to cover-up, that is why we need your assistance.
If you agree to this proposal, we shall discuss on the parcentage and I will
also forward to you all the legal documents that covers this fund for
confirmation.Please reply me as soon as possible.
I awaits your quick response .

Yours faithfully,
Mrs Oronto Douglas/ Michael Douglas Son.


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