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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: blessing akiga <blessingakiga2200@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:21:23 +0100 (BST)
Subject: NICE TO MEET YOU


Hello my dear,

Nice to meet you, I am Mrs. Blessing Akiga from Sierra-Leone. I got attracted after glancing through your short profile, I deemed it necessary to disclose this important issue to you. I lost my husband during the rebel attacked in 2003 before his death, he had an account with a bank here in Cote d’Ivoire, where he made a deposit of US$10.5 Millions Dollars. This money was for the purchase of cocoa procession machines and development of another factory, unfortunately he did not meet his target before his untimely death.

Why I contacted you, due to the agreement he had with the bank during deposit, I’ve been denied total access to the money, the bank Manager told me precisely that the money was deposited in a suspense fixed account with a clause attached to it for onward transfer into a foreign account. That the bank will follow the agreement written and signed by both (the bank and my husband). I was advised to look for a foreign account where the money can be transferred before I can have access to it.

Since security here cannot be guaranteed besides, I’ve lost my husband, I hereby ask you to do me a favour by standing as my late husband’s foreign business partner and the beneficiary of the money to enable the bank effect the transfer into your account.
I have plans to invest this money in continuation with the investment vision of my late husband, but not in this place again rather in your country. I have the vision of going into real estate and industrial production, please if you are willing to assist me and my only son Ken, indicate your interest in replying soonest.

The bank has given me requirements I should forward to them:
1. Your full name, contact postal address
2. Your phone and fax numbers.
3. Occupation
If you agree on this, I’ll give you 15% of the total share when transferred, then 5% will be given to you if you made any expense on the cause of the transfer. Waiting to hearing from you, please once I hear from you I'll send you my pictures, also the deposit certificate the bank gave to my late husband. Thanks for your anticipated co-operation,
Yours,
Mrs. Blessing Akiga

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