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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: "Tom Benson" <tombenson1984@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: tom60ben@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 17:36:03 +0000
Subject: PLEASE KINDLY ASSIST ME URGENTLY

From: Tom Benson
Monrovia, Liberia
Email: tom50ben@hotmail.com

Dear Beloved,

This letter might come to you as a surprise since we have not had any
previous correspondence nor met. This is as a result of the helpless
situation I found myself into. I got your contact during my surf search on
the web for a reliable, capable and trustworthy person that can assist me in
this darkest moment of my life.

I am a native of Liberia. I lost my father, mother and two sisters with our
family assets/house during the recent war raging in Liberia. I am alive
writing you now from Nigeria where other lucky victims and I who escaped
alive from the rebel attack are like refugees. No house, no good food, no
good job. I am just getting assistance from well meaning individuals and a
couple of Nigerians who came back from Liberia too.

Before my father's sudden death, he deposited a consignment labeled as GOLD
& DIAMOND but concealed in it is the sum of US$27,000,000.00 (Twenty Seven
Million US Dollars) in cash with a Private Security Company in Monrovia but
the consignment was later moved to their affiliate office Overseas, for
safety of the consignment (funds), via diplomatic means. He intended to use
the funds for Politics. While my father was alive he explained to me that he
had such fund and had to keep it in a security company abroad due to the
unstable polity in Liberia and considering that he is a politician, he would
not want the Government to seize the money if deposited into the banks in
Liberia.

Now that he is late and am the only surviving son, I am writing you to
assist me receive this consignment in your country, invest it in a
profitable business and help relocate me to join you immediately. As a
result of insecurity of life and property here, I do not want to stay in
Africa any longer. You have my permission /authority to have/collect 30% of
the funds on receiving it, for your timely assistance.

Please indicate your readiness to assist me immediately so that all the
information about this fund will be passed to you immediately. Send to me
immediately the following information:
1. Your full legal names including contact address
2. Your mobile telephone and fax numbers for easy communication
3. Date of birth, sex and marital status for documentation purposes.

As soon as I receive your reply mail I shall forward your information to the
Security/Finance firm overseas to contact you for the delivery of the
consignment to you as my proxy. Thereafter you shall help me relocate to
your country, as I am sick and tired of the unrest in Africa. I shall send
you the Power of Attorney to present to the Finance/security Firm as we
proceed, as demanded by them. With the help of sympathizer I was able to
secure a phone, which is very important for me at this stage to enable, me
transact this important business for which I am contacting you.

Please help me and reply me immediately you receive this mail via my email:
Email: tom50ben@hotmail.com

Your friend in need,
Tom Benson
Email: tom50ben@hotmail.com


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