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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: Sam Martins <sammartins12@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:22:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello


Dearest
 I am the only  Son of Mr.and Mrs.George D, Martins. My father was a
highly reputable business magnet who operated in the capital  of Ivory
coast  during his days.
It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one
of his business trips abroad on the 12th September 2008.

Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been
master minded by an uncle of him who traveled  with him at that time.
But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 8 years  old,
and since then my father took me so special.dalli@easynet.co.uk,

Before my father,s death on September 2008, he called me and informed me
that he deposited a sum of.($ 3.300.000 US Dollars) left  in foreign
name in one of the leading security company in  Accra  Ghana

He further told me that he deposited the money unknown to the security
company the content of the consignment, and also gave me all the
necessary documents to this fund with the security company contact.

 I am just 25 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't
know what to do. Now I want you to stand as my father,s foreign partner
because I have go to the security company in   Ghana  to claim the money
but they told me that I can't do that unless I provide my father,s
foreign partner .

 Now you are chooses by God , I will like to come and reside permanently
in your country after the transaction.This is because I have suffered a
lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in
Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.
I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of
business world. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in
this regards.
Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Please, consider
this and get back to me as soon as possible. I confirm your willingness,
I will send to you my Picture and also inform you more details involved
in this matter.
Kind Regards,
smamartins12@tyahoo.com

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