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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: "Miss. Stephanie Nnaji" <stephannaji@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: stephanie_nnaji@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:13:29 +0530
Subject: Dearest one

Dear,
Compliments of the day. I am writing from Ghana.Got your e-mail address this afternoon while i was surfing the net for a good and reliable partner.It was through there that i saw your address.
Before i go on, i am Mr. Ali Dennis from Ghana in west Africa.i am a goldsmith who deal in all types of precious stone.i started it after the death of my father in the year 2000. i drop from college to continue this family business from falling.Now iam in my late fourties.
I was happy when i saw your address so i decided to write you and make this proposal. Before my fathers death he deposited money and other things worth millions of dollars in a security company in Abidjan {usd7.8m}.I want you to receive this money and use to open a small scale company that will be into manufacturing of ceramic things or any other profitable venture.
though this money will be too small to open a company but we have to start from there the major thing is to have the experience and know how to cordinate other workers.I will stop till i hear from you concerning this transaction.i will need your personal phone number for easy communication.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
A. Dennis.


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