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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: "capt.zuzus Anani." <zuzus@arabtop.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: capt_zuzus@arabtop.net
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:14:34 +0400
Subject: ASSISTACE NEEDED [ REPLY]

Dear Managing Director,
My name is Captain Zuzus Anani, I am soldier and also from Ivory Coast known as (Cote d'Ivoire) in Africa.

I am seeking for your favor to assist me in carrying out a successful investment project in your country, I would like to emphasize that, I will like to invest on real estate and electronics components as part of my investment scheme.

I would like to disclose some things hoping that if I confine myself to you as an business person, You are going to give me all the assistance where so ever.

As a result of some political problems , using my position as a captain , I had to collect a huge sum of money which was meant for feeding and other miscellaneous activities in the army .

So what I have as my possession can not be invested in my country to avoid government questions .

I have to remove the money out of my country and deposited it in a save company outside my country , all the total amount is $15.5m , please I want you to claim and invest it for me in your country. I will offer to you 15% both for any expenses you incur during the transaction.

I hope you can understand me in that context, I would be very grateful if you can send to me an estimate of a proposed project. Looking forward to receive your urgent response.

Regards,

Capt.Zuzus Anani.


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