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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: "Liya" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <liya_gbagbo@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:08:58 -0000
Subject: Hi

Hi

It is my humble pleasure to introduce myself to you. However, I would need your attention for a moment. My name is Liya Gbagbo, age 25 the
Daughter of president Laurent Gbagbo, I am from Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) West Africa, I would like to use your relationship with me to pull my wealth out
of the future problems my father is creating for himself and the family name. My father lost the election to his rival and refused to step down from power
resisting all international pressures and warnings. If I don’t safe guide my wealth to another name, soon I may be at my own risk because government will
freeze every bank account in our family last name including properties.
I promise you will not regret this relationship with me

Thank you
Liya M Gbagbo

Anti-fraud resources: