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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: steve hamson <stevehamson_2@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2006 15:42:04 +0100 (BST)
Subject: TRUST


FROM: STEVE HAMSON
ABIDJAN COTE D’IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA
ATTN: President
Dear sir,
It is my pleasure to write you, pending on this
business proposal. It may be strange to you of whom I
am and how I got your contact. However, I am Mr STEVE
Hamson a citizen of republic of Sierra- Leone. Also I am the accountant general / treasurer of the then
republic of Sierra- Leone I am 43 years old of age and happily married. I got your contact through a reliable and a confident source with pleasant motives which I
shall reveal to you as soon as you are interested to know.
As you must have heard about my country (Sierra-Leone) and the serious suffering for humanity and the national unrest killing and hostility in the hands of
the rebels this event have caused much more death and destruction of properties in the country. As a matter of fact my people have become emergency refugees in
other Africa countries. Consequently I am badly affected because the rebels needed my assistance and co-operation by releasing the national treasury
department to them which I Strictly refused their entry. Therefore out of my four children two was kidnapped including my father and they were eventually killed by the rebels. Further more, all my investments and other asst were
burst to pieces. Even my life and my wife and rest of my family are in danger. But it was not only me in the government facing this hard time, all top the
government official were also maltreated after all these, I patiently continued but I now see it necessary to quit Africa with my family since the
trouble never make any step of reconciliation and Africa continent is very unreliable now as there’s political and ethnic war in every part. Presently, I am taking refugee with my family in Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire under the United Nations refugee
umbrella. Unfortunately Côte d’Ivoire is Having political unrest and many equally burst to pieces soonest, so I am tired and sincerely need your support
and assurance to invest wisely and relocate to your country through your productive ideas and qualities. I have $18.5 million US dollar to be invested in your
country though your support and this existing amount
is right safe and presently not in SIERRA LEONE but
lodge in the custody of a security and finance company
some where around west Africa region which I may
disclosed to you as soon as I receive your
complacence.
I would be contented to have your private contact for
security reasons and I am very optimistic to release a
reasonable percentage of this amount to you for your
assistance.
I anticipate your speedy response remain.
Please kindly contact me immediately you receive this
message through my telephone number or my electronic
box .
Yours sincerely.
STEVE HAMSON


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