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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: Aminatu Mariam <aminatumariam@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 12:38:08 +0100
Subject: INQUIRY TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY

Greetings, Dearest. I'm Hadjia Aminatu Mariam. From Republic
Democratic Congo,in central Africa.

But presently living in France with my family, due to our condition
since the death of my husband and fellowing the criss in the country
for long now,since president Joseph Kabila took power. However, I
write to seek your help and cooperation to help me retrieve a
consignment which contains (money) which is seal in a trunk box and
put in security vault in United Kingdom. The vault agrees to be using
their emissary as courier for onward delivery of the consignment to
your country. Mostly i want this investment to take place in middle
east or north Africa.

the total sum of the money US$5.5 Million Dollars,57 kilos of gold bar and
gold dust plus 1500 carat of diamond stones. Please, if you can assist/help
me retrieve the consignment box, as the vault does not know the content of
the consignment, i will be very happy to compensate you with 25% of the
total sum.

Furthermore, I will give you the contact details of the delivery agent so
that you can speak with delivery services and then take delivery of the
consignment box (fund) to be delivered to your destination address on my
behalf then you will help me and my children's to process our traveling
documents to your country after delivery is being successfully made to
you,so that we can relocate to your country. You will advise me on whatever
profitable ventures which we shall invest on that will be more profitable
as you know your country more than i do. I would also need an experienced
person like you to assist us set up; develop a good investment project that
will yield us profit, and you will be my investment manager in your country.

Your maximum cooperation is highly needed.
Best regards
Hadia Aminatu Mariam
Tel;+33789978644
219 rue de la Tombe-Issoire
75014 Paris

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