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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Agnes Khobe" <agneskhobe775@msn.com>
Reply-To: agnes002@3xl.net
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 04:06:08 +0000
Subject: FROM MRS AGNES KHOBE

FROM MRS AGNES KHOBE.

PLEASE ALL YOUR CORRESPONDENT BE ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.
family776@eriga.lv

DEAR BELOVED FRIEND

This business proposal to you is strictly confidential, with due respect.
Sorry at this perceived confusion or stress may have receiving this letter
from me, Since we have not known ourselves or met previously. Despite that,
I am constrained to
write you this letter because of the urgency of it.By way of self
introduction, I am Mrs.Agnes Khobe, the wife of late Brigadier - Gen.Maxwell
Kobe former ECOMOG ARMY COMMANDER [West African peacekeeping force in Sierra
Leone] who died in the Sierra Leone civil disturbance [War]. My three
daughters and I are trapped in obnoxious custom and traditional norms.

We have suffered maltreatment and untold hardship in
the hands of my late husband's family, simply because
I did not bear a male child [heir apparent] for my
late husband. By tradition, all that my late husband
had, [wealth] belongs to his brothers/family. And
myself is to be remarried by his immediate younger
brother which I vehemently refused. They have taken
all that I suffered with my husband to acquire
including treasures, houses and his bank particular
seized by them. I wanted to escape to your country with my children on
exile, but again they conspired and stole my international passport and
other traveling document to further frustrate me.

Thank God, two weeks ago, I received Key Text Code
from a Security Company IN ONE OF THE EUROPIAN STATE that my late husband
deposited U.S $35.5 Million cash with this company. It has therefore, become
very necessary and urgent to contact someone, a foreigner like you to help
me receive/secure these funds overseas in a reliable bank Account
(presumably an empty Bank Account, if available) and to help invest it on
our behalf as well, while we find a way of getting out to meet with you in
your country.

These funds are kept on an "OPEN BENEFICIARY MANDATE"
with the Security Company in EUROPE to avoid detection, seizure or
diversion. I have had several telephone discussions with the Assistant
Director of the security company in EUROPE, who has express willingness to
help me on meeting the company's demands. This is why I have contacted you
to help save my children and I, receive these funds on our behalf. But, you
would need to give me sufficient assurance that if you help me, you would
not divert the funds. My children and I have resolved to give you 30% of the
total sum. This is all my children and I have got to live on.

Please, I have reposed my confidence in you and hope
you will not disappoint me. I look forward to your
urgent response, including your full mailling address indicate your private
phone / mobile
No and also your fax no for easier communication.

NB: The secret codes (e.g Pin No., Secret Access Code)
for this fund are safely kept with me which I can give
you as soon as you express desire to help me.

Stay blessed.
MRS AGNES KOBE

PLEASE ALL YOUR CORRESPONDENT BE ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.
family776@eriga.lv


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