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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: "EDWARD LAURENT" <edward_444@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: edward_4000@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 22:38:31 +0000
Subject: FROM EDWARD LAURENT

ATT: SEEKING FOR PARTNERSHIP,
I`m sending this letter to you as a partnership. My name is Mr EDWARD LAURENT, I from Liberia in west Africa.

My sole purpose of contacting you is for you to assist me in selling in your country or elsewhere of my rough (uncutted) Diamonds which weighs 14,220 carats,from (3-45 carats),(3kg gross)on the scale,("H"VS-1 quality), all rough and worths about(US$8Million).

I shall map out 10% of the sales proceeds to you for your kind assistance.
The diamonds was deposited by my late mother in a holding firm here in Dakar-Senegal, and it is waiting for my order to be transfered as I am the "NEXT OF KIN" and it is indicated in all the depositional documents which i can send to you on request, there is no risk attarch to this transaction i assure you.
Please indicate your acceptance to this business transaction by sending to me your contact phone and fax numnbers for our verbal communication.
I request that you take two or three working days to visit me face to face and see things youself. and on my next mail i will send you sample of this transaction

Waiting for your response. And Remain bless.
Yours truly
E. LAURENT.
Mailto: edward_4000@hotmail.com


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