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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: Rebeca Rowland <rebeca_rowland@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:40:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hopefully From Rebeca


 Good DayDearest ,  
              My name is Rebeca Rowland the only Daughter and the only child of late Mr Micheal Rowland, I am 20 years old girl, My father was the Director of COTTON and GOLD products exportation in BURKINA FASO. Before the death of my father on 18th, February, 2012 my father deposited the sum of (USD $2,000,000.00 Million U.S Dollars) in a bank here in Burkina Faso, he instructed me while he was on his sick bed at the hospital to look for a foreign partner not from this country who will help me and transfer this money out of here and invest it for me in his/her country. My purpose of contacting you is for you to help me and transfer the money into your account or into the new bank accounts that you will open. I have gone to the bank to verify the method of the transfer with the bank director and he told me that, they cannot release the fund to me, unless I provide to the bank a trustee who will invest the fund for me, that is the agreement between the bank and my late father as it was stated in his will, base on what is going on actually in all over the world, I know you will find it very difficult to believe me, I am telling you the truth that I really need your help. I hope you will not betray the trust I have on you, because this money is my only hope in life, you will also help me to relocate over to your country to continue my education while you will invest the money for me in a good Business in your country for me, I will compensate you with 60% of this money for your kind assistance, I can assure you that there is no risk involved, the money is an inheritance from my late father, I also secured the deposit document of the fund with me, when I receive your return message I will forward to you the copy of my International Passport and my pictures. 

Best regards  
Yours Sincerely 
Rebeca

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