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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: "Martha Koroma" <martha@marthanorth00.com>
Reply-To: marthanorth1@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:58:19 +0000
Subject: Investment/Assistance

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to read this mail. My name is Mrs. MARTHA
KOROMA,from Diamond rich country district of Bombali in Northern Province of
Sierra Leone. I am the widow of the Late Mr. PAUL KOROMA, the managing
director of Sierra Leone diamond mining co-operation. I am currently living
in a refugee center in London, UK.

My family and I have been unfortunate to find ourselves caught up in a very
difficult situation in London. I know you will be surprise to receive this
message, but it is of utmost importance to me and my family.

Anyway, I am about to entrust my destiny and the destiny of my whole
dependants on your shoulder if you can help us, it will also be of immense
benefit to you too. This transaction demands utmost trust, honesty,
integrity and most important, secrecy. It is only through the above that my
family and I will be assured of our security.
This regrettable situation led to the killing of my husband and only
daughter and the displacement of my family.

During the brutal civil war in my country Sierra Leone, my late husband of
blessed memory was brutally murdered by the rebels led by Mr. Foday
Sankoh,he was murdered with my only daughter (Nina). But my two sons (Greg &
Daniel) and I managed to escape to UK, through the help of the International
Rescue Committee (IRC).

But before my late husband's death, he drew my attention to a box containing
about twelve million US dollars ($12 Million) which he smuggled out at the
start of the war to a security company in Spain, Europe. (The security
company does not know the real contents of the box. He registered it in the
name of my son Greg Koroma as family art and monuments) He also gave me the
certificate of deposit and receipt issued to him by the security company,
which I still have in my possession.

The problem I have is that as a refugee, the immigration law does not allow
us to open or hold operate bank account in London and I do not want to seek
the assistance of just anybody for fear of being duped or defraud of our
only livelihood, I have sold almost all my jewelries to keep body and soul
together, hence the British Government is not really taking care of us.

What is required of you is to give us your full name and contact address so
that I can secure a Power of Attorney in your favor that would enable you
contact the security company as the beneficiary of the box. You can then
transfer the funds to your bank account after the box must have been
released to you. In order to make it worth your while, we will give you a
part of the money. We have also map out 5% of the principal sum for any
expenses that you may incurred during the transaction process including
traveling expenses, we intend to invest the remaining part of the money on
your advice in any viable business ventures in your country, you may even
act as our financial adviser if you are so disposed.

If you want to help, you can contact my son Greg Koroma who recent got a job
in one of the local firms in London on this email address
(gpkoroma2005@yahoo.com.sg)
I am looking forward to your immediate response, as I believe that destiny
has brought us together.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Martha Koroma

Please visit the following web pages for further information on the Sierra
Leone war.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sl.html
http://www.hrw.org/reports98/sierra/
http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sierraleone/sierraleone_photos.htm
http://www.theirc.org/Sierra%20Leone/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sankoh1.html


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