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

Fraud email example:

From: PETERSON EHIDO <petersonehido01@netscape.net>
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 04:55:36 +0100
Subject: I NEED BUSINESS PARTNER

Dear friend,
It is my humble pleasure to write you this important
letter, irrespective of the fact that we have not met
for the first time or known each other before.
However, I was able to get your contact through an
international profile in my earnest search for a
reliable and trustworthy person, firm, or group of
persons that can handle this confidential transaction
with me.
.My name is Peterson Ehido, the son of Dr Steven Ehido
(the former financial Director of Sierra Leone
national mining corporation) who was killed and
mutilated by the military junta led by Major Foday
Sankoh after overthrowing the elected government of
President Tejan Kabah,
hough I do not know to what extent you are familiar
with this events and disturbances in Sierra Leone but
it has consistent features in news and bulletins. The
pressure of war drove the rest of our family out of
Sierra Leone into exile where we have been living under political asylum
till now. I am now here with my little sister and myself,
But before the death of my Father he handed over to
me a certificate meant for a secret deposited trunk
box which he made in a security company,
and he disclosed to me that the trunk box contains
US$25,000.000.00 (Twenty Five Million United States
Dollars) withholding the truth of the real content for
security reasons, even the Security Firm is not aware
that the boxes contains Money till now.
The Money was paid to the mining corporation under
him by it's overseas customers in the heat of the war
but he made the deposit in his name with the hope of
converting it to his personal use at the end of the
war but was killed when the conflict intensified as a
result of his opposition to the rebel forces. I have
contacted the Security Company to confirm the deposit
and established ownership. I have decided to solicit
for the assistance of an honest and trustworthy person
that will assist me in the withdrawal of the trunk
boxes for investment purposes.
I cannot do it alone due to my present status and
total ignorance in business and investment world. You
will be given a negotiable percentage of the money at
the end of the transaction. If you are trustworthy and
interested in the proposal, contact me immediately for
more details.
Endeavor to include your personal/private telephone and
fax number when replying to maintain absolute
confidentiality to ensure success.

Please kindly reply to my private email box:
petersonehido@netscape.net

Best regards,
Peterson Ehido

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