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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: iliman_b_son@terra.com.mx
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 16:26:59 +0100
Subject: REPLY URGENTLY PLEASE


FROM MRS ILIMANE BENSON
ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE

DEAR SIR

MY NAME IS MRS ILIMANE BENSON ,FROM SIERRE LEONE I GOT
YOUR CONTACT FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE IN
ABIDJAN , REPUBLIC OF COTE D'IVOIRE ON MY SEARCH FOR
HONEST AND RELABLE PERSON. MY HUSBAND DR THOMSON BENSON
WAS THE MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING IN SIERRA LEONE
HE WAS KILLED BY THE REBELS DURING THE RENEWED
POLITICAL CRISES IN MY COUNTRY.

SOURCE OF FUND

THEIR WAS A CONTRACT AWARDED TO (ECWC FIRM) TO BUILD
HOUSES AND INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONE SYSTEM. IT WAS
DURING THE PROCESS OF THE CONTRACT THAT THE RENEWED
POLITICAL CRISES COMMERCED. THE TUNE OF THE CONTRACT
WAS (US$64M) SIXTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
MY HUSBAND SHARED THE MONEY WITH THE ECOMOG PEACE
KEEPING COMMANDER WHO HELPED HIM SMUGGLED THE MONEY
OUT OF SIERRA LEONE TO A NEAR BY COUNTRY COTE D'IVOIRE.
THE BALANCE OF US$12.5 MILLION WAS FINALLY DEPOSITED
IN A SECURITY COMPANY SINCE 16th JULY 2001 FOR SAFE
KEEPING, (IN ONE TRUNK BOX) AS FAMILY VALUABLES, FOR
SECURITY REASONS.

SIR/MADAM,PEACE HAS RETURNED IN MY COUNTRY , I AND MY
SON HAS DECEDED TO FIND A RELIABLE PARTNER WHO WILL
HELP US PROVIDE AN ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE
TRANSFERRED AFTER CLEARANCE FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY
FOR INVESTMENT TO HIS COUNTRY , ON ANY BUSINESS OF HIS
CHOICE/ ADVISE. CONSIDRING THE FAMILY AND HOW THE
MONEY WAS ORIGINATED WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO INVEST THE
MONEY HERE IN AFRICA , THAT IS OUR MAIN REASON OF
CONTACTING YOU.

WE HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL MONEY FOR
YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.

SIR,AVERY DOCUMENTATION OF THIS DEPOSIT WILL BE HANDED
OVER TO YOU ON REQUEST, WE WILL LIKE YOU TO TREAT THIS
TRANSACTION WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY CONSIDERING
THE POPULARITY OF THE FAMILY INVOLVED.

I AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

MRS ILIMANE BENSON

___________________________________________________________________________
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