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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: williams koffi <williamskoffi776@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:54:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HELP ME


ATTENTION,

HOW IS EVERYTHING WITH YOU, I HOPE ALL IS WELL ? IF SO, THANKS BE TO GOD. PLEASE PARDON ME IF I WILL TAKE MUCH OF YOUR TIME BUT I NEED A HELP FROM YOU AND I WILL BE GREATFUL IF MY REQUEST IS GRANTED. WELL MY NAMES ARE WILLIAMS KOFFI
I AM FROM LIBERIA, I HAVE LOST MY FATHER DURING THE PROBLEM IN MY COUNTRY. MY FATHER WAS KILLED DURING THE FIGHT WITH THE REBELS.

WHEN THEY WERE FIGHTING IN LIBERIA. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER HE REVEAL TO ME AND MY MOTHER THAT HE DEPOSITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA ACCRA.
WHICH MY NAME WAS USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN AS SHOWN IN THE DOCUMENT(CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT) OF WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU AS WE COMMENCE. WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU IS THAT, THE FOREIGN PARTNER WHO IS SUPPOSE TO ASSIST US IN LONDON, DIED OF CARDIAC ARREST IN U.S.A.
RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, THE MONEY IS LYING IN LONDON. OF WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN ASSIST US. SINCE THE DEATH OF OUR FOREIGN PARTNER. SO I AM SOLICITING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME AND MOTHER TO PROCEED FROM WHERE OUR FOREIGN PARTNER STOP SO THAT I CAN SEND ACCROSS TO YOU THE DIPLOMAT CONTACT INFORMATION THAT IS IN CHARGE OF OUR CONSIGNMENT IN LONDON. SO THAT YOU CAN PUT A CALL TO HIM. BUT BEFORE THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TO YOUR NAME. BE YOU THE NEW BENEFECIARY TO RECEIVE IT IN LONDON. SO THAT YOU CAN FLY DOWN TO LONDON TO PICK UP THE ONE TRUNK BOXES WHICH CONTAINS ( $10.7. MILLION DOLLARS.)

I WILL BE GREATFUL IF MY REQUEST IS GRANTED, BECAUSE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT THE TRUNK BOXES IS IN A SHIPPING COMPANY IN LONDON. IT HAS BE KEPT THIER,PENDING THE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FOREIGN PARTNER. SO I AM PLEADING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME AND MY MOTHER SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE DEATILS OF THE DIPLOMAT. SO THAT YOU CAN CONTACT HIM AS OUR FOREIGN PARTNER TO RECEIVE IT. I WANT YOU TO ASSIST US BECAUSE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY HOPE. WE ONLY RELY ON GOD NOW TO GIVE US SOMEONE THAT IS GOD FEARING, THAT WILL GUIDE US AND LECTURE ME AND MY MOTHER ON HOW TO INVEST THIS MONEY.

PLEASE YOU CAN SEND TO ME YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS ON PHONE TO SPEEDY UP THE TRANSACTION. I WILL BE GLAD IF MY REQUEST IS GRTANTED. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
REGARDS
WILLIAMS KOFFI


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