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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: "abena abenavaana" <mrsabena@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ehis4surely@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:20:48 -0700
Subject: From the Desk of Mrs. Abena J.Abavana


*From the Desk of Mrs. Abena J.Abavana*
**
*Greetings,*
**
*I got your contact via Internet as God's wishes, my name is Mrs. Abena
J.Abavana and I am living with AIDS. Ever since my husband, Hon. Lawrence R.
Abavana, former Ghanaian Agriculture minister died of AIDS and I was tested
positive of the AIDS virus, the mass media wouldn't just let me and my
family be at peace any more.*
**
*My children have stopped going to school because they could no longer stand
the humiliations from fellow students. The embarrassments are getting on my
nerves but what can I do? I would have loved to travel out of the country to
a place where I will have peace and spend the rest of my life with my
children but I couldn't make it for I am weak and severely sick.*
**
*Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her country with my hairs
withering and boils all over my body. I will like you to keep this top
secret and Confidential. Please you are at liberty to view my family on the
below webpage for more information;(
www.ghanacastle.gov.gh/President/castle_newsp_details.cfm?EmpID=476)*
**
*From all indications, I know that my days are numbered. In the light of the
above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer out of Ghana the sum of
$14.7 Million USD and 200kg of AU GOLD DUST which my husband deposited as
[FAMILY TREASURES] with a sec-point security company for the up-keep of my
children as they will be coming over to your country in due course to live
and school.*
**
*I am prepared to give you 40% of the total funds as I look forward to hearing
from you via my private email address(abenaabavana@caramail.com) while
thanking you for your anticipated cooperation in advance.*
**
*My lawyer will get in touch with you upon your positive response to assist
my family and also benefit yourself too.*
**
*Kind Regards,*
**
*Mrs Abena J. Abavana
*

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