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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: "In good faith" <cynthialove08@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:38:43 +0200
Subject:

Dear ,
Greetings, How are you today?
I thank God that I have come across you and believe that you will not turn down my request,Though we never met before but i believe that knowing someone start a day.
My name is Cynthia Anoh the doughter of late Mr. Ameree Anoh, I am 20 years old single girl, I am from Bouke in Cote d'ivoire west Africa. I became an orphan when my father and my mother were murdered in Bouke in the northen part of Cote d'ivoire my home town. I was in school when the rebel new force went on rampage and killed people in the town suspected for supporting the government of Gbagbo. I was taken from the school to Abidjan by a good samaritan where I am staying now with the woman I call Aunty, she has been trying her best for me.
I am confuse as to what to do to claim my late father's deposit in a bank in Abidjan here. He deposited a sum of $4 million(four Million Dollar). before he died. I am appealing to you in the name of God to HELP me retrieve this money so we can invest it in any profitable investment in your country and provide a bank account where this money can be trasfer into and a safe place for me to move to after the transfer. I believe you are a reliable person that will not sit on the money and will provide a safe place where I can move to continue my education.
I will be pleased to offer you 10% of the total fund that will be your compasation and any expencess you made also your inconveniences while HELPING me to retrieve this money.
Please send to me your telephone no. and let me know if you can reliably keep this only thing I have left in life with you safely.
I will be waiting to hear from you for more detail,
Thanks and God bless you
Ms Cynthia Anoh.



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