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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: "yakubu&ami" <yakubu_ami3@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: yakubu_ami@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2006 20:09:59 +0100
Subject: hello i am seeking for help


Hello Dear,
In view of my difficulties and problems in this country, I'm so pleased to have found someone like you in whom I can confide or at least talk to. My name is Yakubu Mohammed and my Sister Ami, a Sierria Leone. We are here in Senegal as a refugee. We arrived here a year ago during the peak of our national crises (civil war) Our father, Chief Mohammed Abdulayi was a military personel in the rebel camp.
While serving in the Army, he deposited the sum of $20 million USD cash($20 million us dollars cash) to my mother for my life inheritance.In a prime bank here in Dakar Senegal.
He (my father) drowned in a river while attempting to cross during a battle with the government troops. We are using this opportunity pleading for you to help us retrieve this money and transfer it into your account pending when we will come over to your country for investment.
You will be compensated for all your efforts at the conclussion of the transaction with 30% of the total sum involved in the transfer of our late father's fund to your.
We expect your response immediately you receive this proposal.
We wait to hear from you soon through this email is: yakubu_ami@yahoo.com <mailto:yakubu_ami@yahoo.com>
Thanks
Yours Sincerely,
Yakubu Mohammed & Sister Ami

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