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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: "HENRY LAWRENCE" <ifal@francia.org.mx> (may be fake)
Reply-To: henlaw_z45@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:33:50 +0200
Subject: GOODDAY FROM HENRY LAWRENCE

GREETINGS,

I THANK GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR GRANTING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITING TO YOU. MY LETTER RATHER COME TO YOU AS A VERY BIG SURPRISE, PLEASE BEAR IT WITH ME AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY I HAVE IN MY PRESENT SITUATION.

I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THROUGH THE INTERNET, WHEN I WAS SEACHING FOR A RELIABLE GOD FEARING PERSON, WHO WILL NOT SIDETRACK/BETRAL ME IN THE COLLECTION OF THE FUNDS BE LONG
TO ME I WANT YOU TO CONTACT THE FINANCE COMPANY ON MY BEHALF
MY NAME IS HENRY LAWRENCE, I AM 24YEAR OF AGE, A ZIMBABWE BY NATIONALITY PRESENTLY RESIDING IN DAKAR,SENEGAL WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER OF 20YEARS OLD.MY FATHER HAD A BIG FARM IN MY COUNTRY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH DURING THE CRISES AGAINST WHITE FARMERS AND GOVERNMENT IN MY COUNTRY. YOU CAN FIND THE STORY ON BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/594522.stm

MY FATHER DEPOSITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A FINANCE COMPANY FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT.THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS US$10.5 MILLION DOLLARS, I'M SOLICITING FOR YOUR HAND IN PARTNERSHIP AS TO COME UP SO THAT WE CAN BOTH THINK OF A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT TO START WITH THIS FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY.I HAVE NOT HANDLE SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEFORE, I ALSO DON'T INTEND TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN MY CONUTRY AND I AM NOT INTO BUSINESS, THEREFORE I NEED A HELPING HAND AS TO INVEST THIS MONEY .

I WANT YOU TO HELP I AND MY YOUNGER SISTER .
(1)WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN YOUR COUNTRY.
(2) YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR US.THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THIS DEPOSITING OF FUNDS ARE INTACT WITH ME, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN GOING INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL MONEY ,THEREAFTER. I WILL SET ASIDE 5% FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED GOD BLESS YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY,

HENRY LAWRENCE


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