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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: "ken tayor" <kk-child@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: k-child@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:29:51 -0500
Subject: Please I need Your Assistance

HELLO DEAR,

FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY DECISION TO CONTACT YOU
WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPROVAL CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH
OTHER BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.

I AM KENNY TAYLOR FROM LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA.I WRITE TO INFORM YOU MY
DESIRE TO INVEST, AND TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE FIRST
SON OF MR. WEAH TAYLOR, MY FATHER WAS A DIAMOND/GOLD MERCHANT IN MY
COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE REBELS ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING
OUT OF MY COUNTRY WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER DUE TO THE CRISIS THAT IS OCCURING
IN OUR COUNTRY (LIBERIA).

MY SISTER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N PEACE MAKER, KEEPING FORCE RESCUED MY
FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER
DIED.BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT THE BOXES
CONTAINING: 250 KILO'S OF RAW GOLD AND ($23,MILLION US DOLLARS).

WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING. MY
FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY OF THE CONTENT OF THE BOXES TO THE SECURITY
COMPANY. TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS.
PRESENTLY MY MOTHER AND MYSELF ARE HERE IN GHANA TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY
COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS, AND WE ARE STAYING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP.

THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN INVEST THIS MONEY,
BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN
AFRICA TO AVIOD SUSPICIONS, AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN COUNTRIES, THAT IS WHY WE
WANT TO INVEST IN ABROAD. FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MY MOTHER AND MYSELF
HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY.

WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP
WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU FOR CLEARIFICATION.

NOTE: I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE
TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT
YOU TO FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATIONS
ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

BEST REGARDS,
KENNY TAYLOR

_________________________________________________________________
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