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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: "Victor and Linda Camara" <victor11camara@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: victor13camara@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 14:12:05 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE?

ATTN: DEAR,

I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY FORMAL ACQUATANCE BEFORE, BUT ALL THE SAME I WOULD WANT YOU FOR THE SAKE OF GOD TO GIVE THIS AN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE SECURITY OF OUR LIVE AND POSSESSION IS AT STAKE.

I AM VICTOR CAMARA A 24 YEARS OLD BOY FROM SIERRA LEONE BUT PRESENTLY DOMICILED IN ABIDJAN, COTE D' IVOIRE WITH MY ONLY SISTER LINDA CAMARA THAT IS NOW 20 YEARS OLD.OUR LATE FATHER COL.RAYMOND CAMARA WHO, BEFORE HIS UNTIMMELY ASSASSINATION BY THE REBELS, HE DEPOSITED (US$6,000,000.00) SIX MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS HERE IN ABIDJAN, COTE D’ IVOIRE.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, MY LATE FATHER TOLD ME BEFORE HIS DEATH TO LOOK FOR A GOD FEARING PERSON THAT WILL ASSIST ME TO MAKE CLAIMS OF OUR MONEY FROM THE BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN, SO THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING YOU THIS MAIL HOPING WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE THINGS IS GOING TO WORK OUT FOR ME AND MY ONLY SISTER.

FINALLY, IF YOU HAVE AGREED TO ASSIST US, PLEASE DO NOT FAIL TO REPLY US WITH YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER TOGETHER WITH YOUR FULL RESIDENT ADDRESS, SO IT WILL ENABLE US TO WRITE A LETTER OF AUTHORIZETION ON YOUR BEHALF THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO CONTACT WITH THE BANK FOR ONWARD TRANSFER OR OUR MONEY. ME AND MY SISTER HAS AGREED TO REWARD YOU WITH 20% FROM THE TOTAL SUM, ON RECEIPT OF OUR MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO READ FROM YOU.

YOURS,

VICTOR AND LINDA CAMARA.



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