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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: "Sarah Nene Kouassi" <sarkouassi@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sarahkouassi@myway.com
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 15:11:58 +0100
Subject: SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY

>From :Sarah Nene Kouassi
Abidjan,Cote d'Ivoire


SEEKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY

I regret this informal way of contacting you which I believe would be most effective with regards to the Message I intend to bring to your notice. It is imperative that I adopt this means of communication to safeguard my interest and guarantee that secrecy is not compromised. I got your contact from The Cote d'Ivoire information network on line and want to use this
opportunity to express my interest in doing business with you as I believe
that you are reliable in handling this type of international transaction due to your reputation.

My name is Sarah Nene Kouassi the daughter of the late Brigadier-General Henry Kwasi Koussa who was the former defense secretary of Ivory-Coast(Cote d'Ivoire)before the crisis of Thursday, September 19th 2002. My father and was killed in the crisis by the government troop because of his association with the late military ruler,Brigadier General Robert Guei.

After the death of my father there has been vindictive policies made by the present government just to frustrate my family.Some people in the government just don't like my family and I am accused of soliciting foreign aid against the government.It is not safe for me and my family to remain in this country.Some political opponents are being assassinated under the false notion that they were killed by the rebels.The country is no more safe so I decided to quickly make a foreign investment in order to secure the future of my family and enable us to leave the country.

I want to quickly invest $10 million US dollars in your country.I have not decided what kind of investment but I have real-estate properties in mind.

I am writing to know if you can locate and purchase viable properties for me with your reputation and also manage it until I'm able to leave Africa or help with information for a profitable investments in your country.
I will invite you to visit me here in my country immediately to sign up an agreement with me and will release the investment fund to you while you are here to effect the purchase of the properties on my behalf,according to the agreement and instructions as agreed upon when you get back to your country.

I will offer you 20% commission of the total investment fund and additional 5% for any expenses which you might in-cure as a result of this transaction including traveling, accommodation and other expenses.So if you can handle the business,write me immediately with full details of the available properties and its prices and also furnish me with your fax and
phone numbers.

By the virtue of my position,you shall protect my interest in this business transaction and treat it with absolute confidentiality because I don't want the Government to know about my wealth for security reasons.The money will be released to you after conclusion of all formalities during your visit.
I am looking forward to your immediate response on my private e-mail sarahkouassi@myway.com <mailto:sarahkouassi@myway.com>


Thanks for your co-operation,

Yours sincerely.
Sarah Nene Kouassi


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