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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: "Vivian Noel" <hkeita22@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 14:46:05 +0200
Subject: Princess Helen Keita/ Please Help

From Princess,
C/O: Refugee camp-Abidjan
Republic Of Cote D'Ivoire

Dearest One,

I am delighted to write to you.I am sorry if this mail will come to you as an embarrassment or a surprise, Ijust felt like empting myself to you, to confide in you, as am faced with total frustration and hardship.My Ernest prayer is that you find this mail in good health and blessings.My name is Princess Helen Keita,The Daughter of (Late Chief Adam keita) Who lost his life in the course of the crisis here in Cote D'ivoire on the 7th of November last year on his way to his office.My late father was a cocoa machant.My father willed in cash,
the sum of $8 .2 Million US Dollars which he deposited in a financial institution here in Abidjan Cote D ivoire in west Africa, I have decided to offer you $1.2m for your assistance with enabling conditions for the release of the fund which are as follows:

(1) That I must be 30 years or above.

(2) That upon request for the release of the fund,

There must be evidence of investment intentions especially outside the west africa,I contact you therefore to confirm if you can absorb me in partnership in your company or possibly assist me on any investment opportunity in your country. When I reach agreement with you, the financial institution will release my fund you and I will come over to you to commence business partnership with you and the fund and as well complete my education.
All that I want is your sincere and genuine help in helping me to see that this fund is released to you and come to your acountry were you will also help me invest this fund in a very good business as soon its released. I cannot allow the money remain here, why,because of the war here which possess a great risk to as my life and future solely
lies on it. If you have heard from the news for the past few months now there has been intense fighting and bombing by the troops which I will like to live here as soon as the funds is released out of this country.

I expect your urgent response including your addresses, your mobile telephone and fax number.I wait to hear from you,thanks for expected cooperation.

My regards,
Princess Helen Keita.



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