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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: "ashanti gomel" <ashanti_gomel@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 02:45:02 +0000
Subject: I CRY FOR HELP

Dear friend,
Let me introduce myself to you.My name is Ashanti
Gomel,the only child
and daughter of late Omar Gomel who was my father,a
Diamond merchant,
was recently murdered by his business associates
over the issue of
money,My mother died when i was 3 years old,and this
made me to be very
close to my father.Before the death of my father,he
had taken me to the
security company where he deposited a large sum of
$9,500,000 usd (Nine
million five hundred thousand United states
dollars).
I am the next of kin to my late father,i was given
the proof of
deposit.That is what i have for my life now.
I was reliably informed by a confidant that my
relations are plotting
to kill me, and manipulate my inheritance as the
next of kin.I am
confused and afraid of my life now.I am pleading
with you to help me so
that i can invest the money in your country and also
settle down there.
I am willing to give Part of this sum of money
provided you help me.
Please do reply as soon as possible.

Regards,
Ashanti Gomel
--

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