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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Hussain al-Gadaffi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <iam.richard451@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 18:12:29 +0100
Subject: TOP SECRET

>From the Desk of            
Hussain al-Gadaffi      
Safe Haven Ras Lamef
Eastern Libya.                                             
                                            TOP SECRET!
Dear,I would like to start by thanking God on the recent release of hostage in my country,it was barbaric and i send my sincere apologies,i also hope you dont see it as a true reflection of the people of libya.My full names are Hussein al-Medina Ghadaffi,am the 3rd son of Gen Ghadaffi.As a result of the ongoing conflict in my country the lives of my family and i are in grave peril,i am no longer in support of my DAD,it seens my identity may have been compromised and herein humbly seekyour help on this,and am hoping you will help me on this.  I have in my possession Thirty Million US dollars($30m)which i need to guickly send out of the country and i will be giving you 30% of the total sum which is Nine million dollars($9million)To this end i will need all the help from you,as you will be the one to help me settle down in your country when i arive with my farmily, also willlike you to adive me in the area of bussiness in which we can do in your country Like Gold,diamond or Precious Stone,
 
I will like you to contact My Personal Assistance in West africa Ghana so that we can use the money to Buy Gold or precious stone and i will finally settle in your country.
 
Contact Person
Name:ASA Mwaipopo
Email:auditordepatment1@gmail.com
 
as soon as i hear from you i will be letting you know how the money will be send to you.Dear, if and when all this works out and my family and I are finallly safe,be assured
that it will be just be the begining of a long lasting and hugely beneficial relationship,without sounding pompous,my intersts are vast and varied and they need constant
reorganizatio,.thats hopefully,where you come in.  As you can guess,I anxiosly await your expected positive response.
Thank you.
                                                                                                                                                                          &nb
                                                                                               sincerely yours
                                                                                               Hussain al-Ghadaffi.

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