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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: mccea@handbag.com
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 17:48:54 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE:

From: Mrs Masia Secekedi.

I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN BUYING PROPERTIES:

I know this message might come to you as a surprise since you don't know
me before.I got your contact from Information network online(INO)and want
to use this opportunity to express my interest in doing business with you
as I believe that you are capable in handling this kind of international
business transaction on my behalf. Please mail back on my private mailbox
written below.

I am Mrs Masia Secekedi,a sierra leonean,the wife of late Major.Secekedi,who
died last year.We are presently in exile here in Banjul,The Republic of Gambia.I
want to buy real estate properties worth $15 million US dollars in your country
or any other part of the world,in other to secure the future of my two children.The
real estate can be residential,commercial,industral building or shopping
center.I am writing to know if you can locate and purchase viable properties
for me and also manage it until I leave Africa to join you.

Presently I can not travel out of the continent but if you can locate,purchase
and manage the properties then I will invite you to visit me here in the
Gambia immediately to sign a written agreement with me as my real estate/manager.
I will release the investment fund to you so that you can purchase the properties
on my behalf,in accordance to my instructions after which my son will visit
you to inspect the properties. I will offer you 20% commission of the total
investment fund and additional 5% for any expenses which you might incure
as a result of this transaction, including travelling, accommodation and
other sundry expenses.

So if you can handle the business properly, write me immediately with full
details of the available properties and its prices and also furnish me with
your contact details. By virtue of my position,you should protect my interest
in this business,and treat the business with absolute confidentiality because
I do not want the Government to know about the money, because the money we
want to use for the investment was made by my late husband during his tenure
in the office and the fund was kept in a sealed box with a private securities
and finance company here as a family treasures for security reasons.I am
looking forward to your immediate reply.

PRIVATE MAILBOX: masiasecekedi@netscape.net

Thanks in anticipation,

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs Masia Secekedi



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