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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: vanesa ama <vanesa_amtexcy0@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 10:24:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM MISS VANESA


Dear VICTIMNAME,

Thanks for your mail in response to my proposal. I am glad for your interest and willingness to assist me transfer my fund US$8.2 Million deposited in a bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire to your country for investment purpose.

You may not know that before I decided to search for a foreign partner to assist me in this transaction, I first of all prayed and fasted for 3 days soliciting for God intervention and direction to nominate on my behalf somebody who is trustworthy and God fearing, somebody who will not sit on my fund when it will finally arrives in his account. After this ceremony, God directed me to you and I decided to contact you. I reposed my trust in you believing that you will not disappoint me.

I will like to use this opportunity to re-assure you that our transaction is genuine, legal and hitch free. Be informed that I came from a God fearing and trustworthy family and I will not like to involve myself in anything that will tarnish the good image and reputation of my family. Please don't entertain any fear as regard to this transaction.

On receiving your next reply indicating your further determination to assist me finalise this transaction, I will send you an application letter which you will send to the bank here where the said fund is presently deposited to enable them start processing the transfer of the fund to the account which you will provide.

Hoping to hear from you ASAP.

Best regards,
Miss Vanesa



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