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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: "MR.TANKO ESSIEN" <tessien147@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:08:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: very urgent


Dear VICTIMNAME,
How are you today?trust me because we are going to work together forever ,what i want you to do now is to send me bank account details and your id cards and full address so that the $12m will be transfered into it within four days and the money will be share 50% 50% between us and i want you to maintain secrecy in this transaction because i don't want any problem that will rise the eyes of people on the fund and i hope you known the nature on how the money was raised ,so work, help me and help yourself for us to transfer the money out of Nigeria within 4 days.
I need urgent assitance and you have to be fast so that immediately i transfer the funds into your account ,i will be coming to your country to see you, and i hope you will assist to invest my $6m into a lucrative enterprise in your country.
So be sincere with me for us to became successfull.
Thanks,
Yours Sincerely,
Chief Tanko Essien


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