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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: "MARY PETER" <marypet@myway.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 21:25:48 +0400
Subject: truth some one to help

>From Madam Mary Peter
15 bp1562 abidjan 15.
Cote D'Ivoire.
Attn: Dear,
With due respect, trust and humanity, I write to you this proposal which I believe would be of great interest to you. I am Mrs MARY PETER, the wife of late MICHEAL PETER of blessed memory. Before my husband was killed by forces loyal to MAJOR JOHNNY PAUL KASA, he was the Director-General of Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation (GDMC) of Sierra-Leone.
My husband targeted by the rebel forces in the course of the revolution. Two days before his death, he managed to sneak a written message to us, explaining his condition and concerning one trunk box of valuables containing money and gold, which he deposited with a private Security & Finance Company in Abidjan Cote d'Iviore.
He instructed me to take our two children(Alloy and Rose) and move out of Sierra-Leone immediately to Abidjan Cote d'Iviore before the Peace Keeping Forces of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOMOG) monitoring team intervened to arrest the situation of mass killings by the rebels, which was the order of the day.
Eventually it resulted into full war. I became a widow overnight; helpless situation without partner. At that moment of calamity, every person was running for his/her life. In the content of the deed he signed with the Security Company, he used the name of his son Master Alloy as the next of kin. The real content of the box were not disclosed to the Security Company due to security reasons. Now as a refugee, we have very limited financial rights here, we intend to leave this country immediately with the whole money for investment in your country because of the stable situation and mostly for the future benefits of my children.
We have since applied for political asylum. The cash involved inside in the box is US$ 10.5 Million ( Ten million and five hundred thousand united state dollars). I want you to assist us to claim the box from the Security Company as the new beneficiary so that the change ownership of the documents covering this consignment/box will be legally effected to your name as to enable you have this money deposited in a local account here in Abidjan in your name for the easier transfer of this money in to your oversaes bank account.
We also source for good investment so that we can invest the money wisely. We have in mind to establish a rewarding investment and good relationship with you. Concerning the money, we are prepared to offer you a reasonable percentage of 20% of the total sum proceeds. Meanwhile 5% has been mapped out for any expenses you may incurred in the course of this transaction and 75% will be for my family.
For the interest of this business, do not hesitate to contact us with the above email addresss immediately you receive this message for more information to enable us proceed in earnest towards concluding all our arrangements.
No other person knows about this money apart from my children and I. We await your most urgent response.
Thanks for your co-operation and God bless you.
Best regards,
Madam Mary.


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