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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: "MR. EMMANUEL YAYA" <eyaya@myway.com> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 20:37:52 +0000
Subject: Good evening dear..

Dear Friend ,
It is my great pleasure writing this short but vital letter to you. I am Emmanuel Yaya, a driver to the Late Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema. I have served him for the past twenty years before his death and I have a very good relationship with him. Now after his death and his son Faure Gnassingbe was un-democratically sworned in as the new President to complete his late father's tenure in office; and he had made it clear to all the long-serving workers that we don't have future in his leadership as he had embarked on terminating the service of the long serving workers.

In the light of the above, I deceided to get in-touch with you concerning my agenda on moving over to western world to start up a profitable business with the money ($6,825million) I secured during my 20years service to the late president. Please take and handle this letter with a good manal of understanding because I am telling you the whole truth; and I want this to be a confidential letter between the two parties that are involed (me and you). I need your aid as a citizen and I do want to make a donation through this money to the Tsunami Victim.

I really count on you greatly for your future co-operation. I await to read from you soonest.

Best Regards,
Mr. Emmanuel Yaya.
eyaya@voila.fr






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