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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "fsarahjohnson35 Gazeta.pl" <fsarahjohnson35@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: fsarahjohnson@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 22:13:47 +0000
Subject: From Frank & Sarah Johnson


C/O: Refugee camp-Abidjan
Republic Of Cote D'Ivoire

Dearest One,

Complement of the season.I am sorry if this mail will come to you as an
embarrassment or a surprise, I just felt like empting myself to you,to
confide in

you, as we faced with total frustration and hardship. My Ernest prayer is
that you find this mail in good health and blessings. My name is Frank and
my

younger sister Name Sarah Johnson, I am the first
Son of (Late Chief Adam Johnson) Who lost his life in the course of the
crisis here in Cote D'ivoire on the 7th of November last year on his way to
his

office.My late father was a cocoa machant.My father willed in cash, the sum
of $6.2 Million US Dollars which he deposited in a Fixed/Suspence account
here

in Abidjan Cote D ivoire in west Africa, with enabling conditions or the
release of the fund which are as follows:

(1) That I must be 25 years or above.
(2) That upon request for the release of the fund, there must be evidence
of investment intentions especially outside the west africa,I contact you

therefore to confirm if you can absorb me and my junior Sister Sarah in
partnership in your company or possibly assist us on any investment
opportunity in

your country.When we reach agreement with you, the bank will release our
fund into an account that you shall nominate and you will arrange for us
come over

to your country to commence business partnership with you and the fund and
as well complete our education.All that we want is your sincere and genuine
help

in helping us to see that this fund is transfered to your account in your
country where you
will also help us invest this fund in a very good business as soon as its
been transfered to your account.We cannot allow the money remain
here,why,because

of the war here which possess a great risk to as our life and future solely
lies on it. If you have heard from the news for the past few months now
there

has been intense fighting and bombing by the troops which we will like to
live here as soon as we have this money transfered out of this country.We
expect

your urgent response including your addresses, your mobile telephone and
fax number.I wait to hear from you,thanks for expected co-operation.
Our regards,
Frank & Sarah Johnson.

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