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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: =?us-ascii?Q?Walai=20Melek?= <Walai@seznam.cz>
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2005 20:24:36 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Helpline

Good day,
I hope this letter will not upset you, as we have no previous discussion on this matter. I am Walai Melek, son of Mr. Donald Melek ; a Liberian former Director of Liberian Mining corporation (LMC) who was assassinated by the Rebels fighting former President Charles Taylor's Government in Dec.2002.

My mother died of heart attack, one year before my Father's death. I and my junior brother John become orphans without anybody to care for us; even the Government, which our father served and lost his life, didn't do much to assist us. My father unsure of Liberian Political future had secretly moved the sum of Eighteen Million USA Dollars [$18.Million] Well packed in metal box out of Liberia and deposited it at a Security Company in our neighbouring Country of Cottonue Republic of Benin, Labbeled it as Family treasure with PIN code which is the only key to collect the consignment from the security company. That was at the period when Liberia was facing United Nation Embargoes and he had intended to use the money for future elections.

We left Monrovia to live in nigeria as a political refugees in August 2003 when the President; Mr. Charles Taylor was forced into exile by the UN/ECOWAS authorities to pave way for tribal reconciliation in our war torn country which will lead into bringing the rebel soldiers that killed our father into Monrovia. We were advised to leave Liberia to avert victimization in the hands of our father's political enemies.

It was unfortunate that the Government that our father served and lost his life did not make any arrangement to cover us in their plan to move into comfortable arranged exile. The president Mr. Charles Taylor took with him other cabinet families who served with him when he was going on exile but we were abandoned behind in Monrovia till we find our way to nigeria. So because the Rebels are coming into Monrovia take over the Government we have no alternative than to escape as they may kill us as they killed our father.

I hereby request you to assist us by acting as our late father's foreign business partner so that you will help us to collect the consignment/ money from the security company in Cottonue to your country or any other safe location for investment purposes ,although the security company did not know the real content of the consignment as my father did not disclose it to them,according to him before he was assainated,thank God he give me the key and the PIN code to collect the Consignment. You will also help us to migrate to your country to continue our lives as orphans and with your guidance; the money will be invested in profitable ventures while we continue our education.

Kindly inform me what percentage of the total sum you wish to receive as compensation for rendering your help.

You should please treat this matter as confidential, as I would not like to expose the existence of the money at the Security company for security reasons ranging from our refugee status here and our father's status as civil servant in the past Liberian Government.

Kindly study my request carefully and send your response fast through : Walaimelek@atlas.cz.
Thanks in advance for saving our lives.

Yours Sincerely,
Walai Melek
Walaimelek@atlas.cz

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