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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: "Michael B Tony" <mikeb_sl2@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:06:26 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Hello

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE


Though you don’t know me, I am MICHAEL TONY, a Sierra-leonnean and who has just gotten out of the hands of
Rebel Soldiers,fighting against the regime of
President Tijan Ahmed Kaba and his troop.My father
who was then the chairman of the diamond co-operation
in Sierra Leonne,was killed also by the rebels .On
the intervention of Rev.Jesse Jackson, we were
released and presently staying in a refugee camp in
Ghana.

Before my father’s death ,he notified me of a huge
amount he hurriedly deposited with a security company
here in Ghana (during the war ).He gave me the
documents and authority to claim the consignments from
the company.The amount involved in the consignments
is $20.5 m(twenty million,five hundred thousand US
dollars).He logded with the company as a jewelleries.

The security company is prepared to help me carry my
consignments (money) out of Africa.This security
company officials, do travel on official assignments
and with diplomatic immunity,to pay offshore
contractors.I want you to assist me as my partner to
help me receive the consignments over there and keep
it in a safe place.You will then send me a letter of
invitation,in other for me to get my visa to join you
up.I am also interested in Buying a house as I will be
coming to settle down there with my family and you
should advise me on a Profitable business in your
country.

For your assistant,I am prepared to compensate you
with 10% of the money,5% will be set aside for extra
expenditure,during the cause of this transaction.While
,the rest will be for my investments.

Please let me know my intentions immediately through
my email information above.

NOTE: Please treat this as confidential ,as I have
not told anybody except you even Your friend that gave
me
your contact .

Waiting to hear from you.

Yours truly,

MICHAEL TONY.


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