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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: keven kieta <keven_kieta09@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2006 22:17:47 +1000 (EST)
Subject: A CRY FOR HELP


FROM MR KEVEN KIETA.
ABIDJAN.IVORY COAST
WEST-AFRICA
DEAR FRIEND,
PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF ENTERING INTO
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. I GOT YOUR EMAIL THROUGH A
FRIEND WHO WORKS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HERE IN
ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE
I PRAYED OVER IT AND SELECTED YOUR NAME AMOUNG OTHER NAMES
DUE TO IT'S ESTEEMING NATURE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN
TO ME AS A REPUTABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON I CAN DO
BUSINESS WITH AND BY THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS I MUST NOT
HESITATE TO CONFIDE IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE
BUSINESS.
KEVEN KIETA . THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR
AND MRS.KOUSSI KIETA. MY FAHTER 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 ON A BUSINESS
DEAL.
WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1995. MY FATHER
TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS.
BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH AUGUST 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$22.500.000
(TWENTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES
DOLLARS) LEFT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN.
THAT HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY CHILD FOR THE NEXT OF KIN
IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS
BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES, 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).
I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS :
TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE
TRANSFERED TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM
A GIRL OF 22 YEARS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER
TO YOUR COUNTRY TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AND TO SECURE A
RESIDENTIAL PERMIT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL
SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT INPUT AFTER THE
SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT
OVERSEAS.
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.
I WILL APPRECIATE YOU SEND ME E-MAIL.
ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS.
KEVEN KIETA.




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