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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: godwinb3 _umar <godwinb4_umar@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:51:57 +0100 (CET)
Subject: FROM GODWIN


DEAR SIR,
I KNOW THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE THIS IS MY
INTRODUTORY MESSAGE . I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH THE COTE D IVOIRE
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY FOREIGN AFFAIRS DIVISION.
MY NAME IS GODWIN UMAR THE SON OF THE LATE MR JAMES UMAR ,MY LATE FATHER WAS A COCOA DEALER,HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR BUSINESS TRIPS.
BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER EARLY THIS YEAR IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL
HERE IN ABIDJAN HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS THE SUM OF FIVE MILLON DOLLARS
(US$ 5M)LEFT IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT IN ONE OF THE PRIME
BANK IN ABIDJAN THAT HE USED MY NAME GODWIN UMAR
FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSITING THE FUND.HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT
IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.
HE ADVISED ME TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE
WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THE FUND FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES.
I AM HUMBLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.
1) - TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
2)- TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM IGNORANT OF WHERE
AND HOW TO INVEST THIS FUND.
3)- TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY, TO SECURE
AND INITIATE THE TYPES OF VIABLE VENTURES TO INVEST.
I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL FUND FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO
TRANSFER THE FUND IN YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT WHILE WE SHALL DISCUSS YOUR
SHARE OF THE PROFITS THAT WILL ACCRUE FROM EVERY INVESTMENT. 5% WILL
BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE
THIS TRANCATION .
THANKS GODWIN UMAR




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Découvrez une nouvelle façon d'obtenir des réponses à toutes vos questions ! Profitez des connaissances, des opinions et des expériences des internautes sur Yahoo! Questions/Réponses.

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