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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: catherine Koffi <mrscatherine_koffi1744@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:06:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dearest One



Dearest One,

I am Mrs catherine Koffi from Solomon Islands.I am married to late Mr George Koffi, who worked with Solomon Islands Embassy in Ivory Coast for Twenty-Six years before he died in the year 2003,after a brief illness that lasted for only five days. We were married for Eighteen years with a duaghter(Lilian)who later died in a motor accident. Before the untimely death of my husband,we were both born again Christians. Since after his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (US$2.5M)(Two Million,Five hundred Thousand United States Dollar) in a General Trust Account with a prime bank in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.

Presently,this money is still with the bank. Recently,Following my ill health, my Doctor told me that I may not last for the next eight months due to my cancer problem.The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness.Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Christain organization,orphanage homes, humaniterian Aid, that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein,according to the desire of my late husband before his death.I want this fund to be used in Christain Activities like,Orphanages, Christain schools, and Churches. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way.

This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always.I don't want them to know about this development.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in Abidjan. I will also issue you the documents that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated here. Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed Mrs. catherine Koffi

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