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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. Marcel Richard" <marcelrichard@gobot.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: marcelrichard.esq_ivoire@luxmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 20:31:11 +0100
Subject: Business Proposal

Hello ,

Good-day to you. I'm pleased for contacting you in this issue
Hello ,

Good-day to you. I'm pleased for contacting you in this issue
and I hope that it won't be a disturbance to you .
I would like to apply through this medium for your co-operation
and to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint business with
you in your country.
I have a substantial capital of (US$17 M ) which I honourably
intend to invest in your country into a very lucrative business
venture of which you are to advise and execute the said venture
over there for the mutual benefits of both of us
I inherited this money from my late father Chief Marius Richard
former interior minister of IVORY COAST, I 'm writing with a view
of soliciting for your kind assistance towards the retrieval and
transfer of this fund to your account for further investment.
Please understand that this proposal needs uttermost confidentiality;
Thanks for your mutual co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Marcel Richard
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL: marcelrichard.esq_ivoire@luxmail.com



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