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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MISS PAULA LITANA" <paula_litana501@excite.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mailpaula_litana@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 11:41:15 +0000
Subject: THINK ABOUT MY CASE

DEAR SIR,
I AM MISS PAULA LITANA (HC), I AM THE ONLY SURVIVING DUGTHEROF LATE MAYOR MUSA LITANA WHO WAS A POPULAR GOLD AND DIAMOND DEALER IN SIERRA LEONE. MY LATE FATHER WAS KILLED DURING THE WAR BY THE REBEL LEADER (FODEY SANKO). I WAS A STUDENT THEN IN SIERRA LEONE WHEN THIS OCCURED AND BY THE GRACE OF ALLAH, I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THE HIT AND RAN TO THE GAMBIA WHERE I AM SEEKING ASYLUM TILL DATE UNDER THE CARE OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

BEFORE I DEPART FROM SIERRA LEONE, I HAVE SOME GOLD AND DIAMONDS WHICH MY DAD HAD BEFORE HIS DEATH AND I DEPOSITED THEM NOW IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN THE GAMBIA.

I HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER THE CARE OF THE UNITED NATIONS. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THIS SECRET TO MYSELF BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO LOOSE THE TREASURE THAT MY FATHER LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE IT IS ALL I HAVE.

NOW I HAVE DECIDED TO SEARCH FOR A GENIUNE AND REPUTABLE COMPANY OR PERSON ABROAD WHO CAN HELP ME TO TRANSFER THIS GOLD AND DIAMOND OUT OF AFRICA FOR DISPOSAL. ALSO BRING ME OVER TO THE COUNTRY WHERE I CAN SETTLE DOWN TO FINISH MY EDUCATION AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR.

I KNOW THAT GOLD AND DIAMOND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE WESTERN WORLD SO I DECIDED FOR BOTH OF US TO DO THE BUSINESS TOGETHER. UPON YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS REGARD, WE CAN SIGN AGREEMENT FOR THE WORKING PROCEDURES AND ALSO I WILL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERCHANDISE.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY CONTACTING ME BACK ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL:mailpaula_litana@yahoo.co.uk


BEST REGARDS.

PAULA LITANA


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