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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: "Miss: Henrietta," <success@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: successjm2@netscape.net
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 14:18:12 +0200
Subject: Hello

Dear,

I am Miss Henrietta Hen, the only child of late Mr IDOMA HEN of ivory coast.
My father before his death was the managing director of HenIdoma
holdings,west africa,limited . I came to know of you in my search for a
reliable and reputable institution/person who can handle a very
strictly and confidential transaction which involves a reasonable sum of money.
I need your urgent assistance to move the sum of $4.5 million (four.five
million American dollars) that was kept in a security company in europe by my
late father , with my name Miss Henrietta Hen as the next of kin I have
concluded to go into investment with it that is why i am soliciting for your help
in removing the fund from security company in Europe. I need you to be my
foreign partner in this project so as to assist me in concluding all
arrangements with the company on how to move the fund to your account
for investments.

I can not travel to Europe now due to the fact that my travelling documents was
seized by my fathers relatives because they are scrambling for his wealth too.
I want to place the fund in a very good business in your country under your care
for 3 years for investment purpose but our profit will be shared annually,70%for me
and 30% for you. Be also informed that it is risk free as I have all the original documents
from the security company in Europe. Please note that it is vitally important
that you accord this business the utmost secrecy and confidentiality it deserves.
As I look forward to your immediately response. Please feel free to ask
questions if need be as they will be answered accordingly. Best

regards,
Henrietta Hen




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