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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: "Okante Mary" <okante_mary@msn.com>
Reply-To: maryokante@uku.co.uk
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 08:38:47 +0000
Subject: FROM MARY OKANTE

DEAR

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
I BELIEVEYOU ARE A AREPUTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE
TRUST WORTHY PERSON I CAN DO BUSINESS WITH AND BY
MATTER OF TRUST I MUST NOT HESITATE TO CONFIDE
IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.

I AM MISS MARY OKANTE., THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE DR AND
MRS IDRIS OKANTE, MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA
MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF
IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS
A
BUSINESS DEAL. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER
1984, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM
MOTHERLESS.

BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 24TH NOVEMBER 2000
IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY
CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A
SUM OF US$10,000,000 IN A TRUNK BOX THAT HE DEPSOSITED
IN ONE OF THE SAFE SECURITY COMPANIES HERE IN ABIDJAN
THAT HE USE MY NAME AS HIS ONLY CHILD AS THE NEXT OF
KIN DURING THE TIME OF DEPOSITING OF THE FUND.HE MADE
ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE DID NOT DISCLOSE THE REAL
CONTENT OF THE BOX TO THE SECURITY COMPANY AS IT WAS
DEPOSITED AS FAMILY VALUABLES FOR SECURITY REASONS.

HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS
WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES, AND THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN
PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL
TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE
(SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).

DEAR, I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS.
1) TO ASSIST ME AND MOVE THE BOX CONTAINING THE MONEY
TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT

2) TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND.

3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR
COUNTRY TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AND TO SECURE A
RESIDENTIAL PERMIT FOR ME IN YOUR COUNTRY.

MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE
TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT /INPUT
AFTER
THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR
NOMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEA.

FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS
ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD
BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS YOU SIGNIFY
INTEREST TO ASSIST ME.
ANTICIPATING HEARING FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

BEST REGARDS.
MISS MARY OKANTE


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