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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mariam Luke." <lukemariam@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrsmariam_luke@yahoo.co.in
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 07:43:55 +0100
Subject: from Mrs Mariam Luke

Mrs Mariam Luke
15 Argyle Street
Kings Cross
Central London
WC1H 8EQ
United Kingdom


RE:PATNERSHIP INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mrs Mariam Luke resident in the United Kingdom.I wish to use this
correspondence to urgently seek your assistance in a sensitive but
highly beneficial project.

Before the death of my late husband whose details and person I cannot
release at this point, he called my attention to some fund. He charged
me to do my best in securing and handling this fund in the total sum of
fifty-five Million Dollars (US$55Million).

This amount of money is in cash and presently lodged with a security
outfit overseas. My husband insructed me never to deal with anybody who
had any relationship with my family in past, so I have decided to seek
assistance overseas with the hope of finding a reliable and trustworthy
partner with whom I can discuss an arrangment that I have put in place
for securing the fund.

I promise to give you some % of the total sum for you assistance in
this project, if you agree to help me. You shall also assist to invest in
some lucrative business on behalf of my family and receive 10%^ of the
annual after profit from investment. I shall furnish you with the details and
information you will need to accomplish this task. Please be rest
assured that this arrangement is absolutely risk free And cannot implicate you
in any way.

I implore you to handle this matter with urgency and utmost confidence
even if you do not intend to execute the project for me. Whatever the
case, please acknowledge receipt of this mail. If your response is
positive we shall proceed immediately without any delay.
Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation and hoping to hear from
you soonest.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Mariam Luke.



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