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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: Sonia Safo <sonia_safo2@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 11:01:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: sonia_safo2@yahoo.com


>From Sonia Safo.
Abidjan, Cote Di'voire,
West Africa.

Dear delighty,.

This is the voice of me, Sonia Safo. in progress and difficulties i'm using this very long needed opportunity to write to you once more. May i also know from you the academics works and health.

Please i want you to assiste me transfer my money to your account.

Please contact me with my email address for more detail (sonia_safo2@yahoo.com)

Thanks
Sonia Safo.


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