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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: save us <save2006@o2.pl>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:39:36 +0000
Subject: HELP

DEAR FRIEND,
I SINCERELY APOLOGISE FOR INVADING YOUR PRIVACY AND CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE
TO READ THROUGH MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND
RISK FREE TRANSACTION.
I AM MR.PAO, I AM MOVED TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER ,THIS WAS IN CONFIDENCE
CONSIDERING OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATION.
I ESCAPED WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN OUT OF SIERRA- LEONE TO EUROPE WHERE
WE ARE NOW PRESENTLY RESIDING ON TEMPORARY POLITICAL ASYLUM.
HOWEVER DUE TO THIS SITUATION I DECIDED TO CHANGE MOST OF MY MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN SWISS BANK AND OTHER COUNTRIES INTO OTHER FORMS OF
MONEY CODED FOR SAFE PURPOSE BECAUSE THE NEW HEAD OF STATES AHMED TEJAN
KABBA MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE SWISS GOVERNMENT AND OTHER EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES TO FREEZE ALL MY TREASURES DEPOSITED IN SOME EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES,HENCE I AND MY WIFE ALONG WITH MY CHILDREN, DECIDED LAYING LOW
IN A TEMPORARY POLITICAL ASYLUM TO STUDY THE SITUATION TILL WHEN THINGS
GETS BETTER,SINCE PRESIDENT TEJAN KABBA TAKING OVER GOVERNMENT AGAIN IN
SIERRA-LEONE ONE OF MY CHATEAUX IN SOUTHERN FRANCE WAS CONFISCATED BY THE
FRENCH GOVERNMENT,AND AS SUCH WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR IDENTITY SO THAT OUR
INVESTMENT WILL NOT BE TRACED AND CONFISCATED.
I HAVE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF THIRTY MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS(US$30,500,000)WITH A SECURITY COMPANY FOR SAFEKEEPING.
THE FUNDS ARE SECURITY CODED TO PREVENT THEM FROM KNOWING THE ACTUAL
CONTENTS.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO NOW IS TO INDICATE YOUR INTEREST THAT YOU WILL
ASSIST ME AND MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY BY RECEIVING THE MONEY ON OUR BEHALF.
THE ACCOUNT REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT CAN EITHER BE PERSONAL,COMPANY OR AN
OFFSHORE ACCOUNT THAT YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER,YOUR AREA OF
SPECIALISATION WILL NOT BE A HINDERANCE TO THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF
THIS TRANSACTION.
ACKOWLEDGE THIS MESSAGE,SO THAT I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO MY FAMILY AS OUR
FOREIGN TRUSTED PARTNER WHO SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF OUR INVESTMENT ABROAD
WHERE WE NOW PLAN TO SETTLE.
I WANT YOU TO ASSIST US IN INVESTING THIS MONEY,BUT I WILL NOT WANT OUR
IDENTITY REVEALED.I WILL ALSO WANT TO BUY PROPERTIES AND STOCKS IN
MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES AND TO ENGAGE IN OTHER SAFE AND NON SPECULATIVE
INVESTMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL TURMOIL,HENCE WILL NEED
YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ASSISTANCE.
MAY I AT THIS POINT EMPHASIZE THE HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY WHICH THIS
BUSINESS DEMANDS AND HOPE YOU WILL NOT BETRAY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
WHICH WE REPOSE IN YOU.I SHALL PUT YOU IN THE PICTURE OF THIS BUSINESS,I.E
TELL YOU WHERE THE FUNDS
ARE CURRENTLY BEING MAINTAINED AND ALSO DISCUSS OTHER MODALITIES INCLUDING
REMUNERATION FOR YOUR SERVICES.
I SHALL INFORM YOU WITH THE NEXT LINE OF ACTION AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR
POSITIVE RESPONSE.
IS THIS PROPOSITION ATTAINABLE?IF IT IS,PLEASE KINDLY FURNISH ME
IMMEDIATELY BY E-MAIL WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO
ENHANCE THE CONFIDENTIALITY WHICH THIS BUSINESS DEMANDS.
BEST REGARDS
MR.PAO



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