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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: "Martha Koroma" <marthakoroma@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 21:03:15 +0100
Subject: MERRY CHRISTMAS.. FROM MRS MARTHA KOROMA

KIND ATTENTION:
Dear Beloved,
Thank you for taking the time to read this mail. My name is

Mrs. MARTHA KOROMA; from Diamond rich country district of

Bombali in Northern Province of Sierra Leone. I am the widow

of the Late Mr. PAUL KOROMA, the managing director of

Sierra Leone diamond mining co-operation. I am currently living

in a refugee center in London, UK.
My family and I have been unfortunate to find ourselves

caught up in a very difficult situation in London. I know you

will be surprised to receive this message, but it is of utmost

importance to me and my family. I got your contact through

my research on the internet for a trust worthy person. Anyway,

I am about to entrust my destiny and the destiny of my whole

dependants on your shoulder if you can help us, it will also

be of immense benefit to you too.
This transaction demands utmost trust, honesty, integrity and

most importantly, secrecy. It is only through the above that my

family and I will be assured of our security.
This regrettable situation led to the killing of my husband and

only daughter and the displacement of my family.
During the brutal civil war in my country Sierra Leone, my

late husband of blessed memory was brutally murdered by the

rebels led by Mr. Foday Sankoh, he was murdered with my

only daughter (Nina). But my two sons (Greg & Daniel) and I

managed to escape to UK, through the help of the

International Rescue Committee (IRC).
But before my late husband's death, he drew my attention to

a box containing about twelve million US dollars ($12 Million)

which he smuggled out at the start of the war to a security

company in Spain, Europe. (The security company does not

know the real contents of the box. He registered it in the

name of my son Greg Koroma as family art and monuments)

He also gave me the certificate of deposit and receipt issued

to him by the security company, which I still have in my

possession.

The problem I have is that as a refugee, the immigration law

does not allow us to open or hold operate bank account in

London and I do not want to seek the assistance of just

anybody for fear of being duped or defraud of our only

livelihood, I have sold almost all my jewelries to keep body

and soul together, hence the British Government is not really

taking care of us.

What is required of you is to give us your full name and

contact address so that I can secure a Power of Attorney in

your favor that would enable you contact the security company

as the beneficiary of the box. You can then transfer the funds

to your bank account after the box must have been released

to you. In order to make it worth your while, we will give

you a part of the money. We have also map out 5% of the

principal sum for any expenses that you may incurred during

the transaction process including traveling expenses, we intend

to invest the remaining part of the money on your advice in

any viable business ventures in your country, you may even

act as our financial adviser if you are so disposed.
If you want to help, you can contact my son Greg Koroma

who recently got a job in one of the local firms in London

on this email address (k_greg2003@yahoo.co.uk). I am looking

forward to your immediate response, as I believe that destiny

has brought us together.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Martha Koroma

Please visit the following web pages for further information on

the Sierra Leone war.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sl.html
http://www.hrw.org/reports98/sierra/
http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sierraleone/sierraleone_photos.htm
http://www.theirc.org/Sierra%20Leone/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sankoh1.html



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