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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: ahmed sav <ahmedsav001@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <ahmedsaz01@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:54:35 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY, URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED



GOOD DAY, URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDEDSince, you do not know me and we have never had any personal contact.Firstly,let me start by introducing myself properly to you. My name is Ahmed Savimbi the son of Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, the leader UNITA (National Union for the Total Independenc of Angola). I got your email address from network directory. I apologize if I have infringed on your privacy. You maybe aware, that my Late Father (Jonas Malheiro Savimbi) was killed on friday 22nd February, 2002 in a battle with the government troops of Angola, led by President Dos Santos. However, I am a young man who has ambitions and I am not in any way interested in wars, this is why I ecretly left Angola for the Burkina-faso(OUAGADOUGOU) to seek asylum. Besides, I am using this correspondence to seek and request your assistance and cooperation in a sensitive but highly beneficial financial arrangement.There is this huge amount of Six million Two hundred and Forty-Five thousand U.S dollars ($6,245,000.00) which my late fatherkept in a security/financial firm before he was assassinated by government mercenary on 22 February, 2002, during a political crisis in my country - Angola. This fund was stashed in a security vault in Burkina-Faso, out of foresight for a likely situation which I and my family found our selves then. My father – Late Mr. Jonas Malheiro Savimbi deposited it as a family treasure and that was before his death. Now I and my Sister have left Angola to Ouagadougou in the Republic of Burkina-Faso, through the help of my late father's loyal friend. Meanwhile, we are staying here with refugee status, instead of going to exile and we have decided also to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside my country Angola and the whole of Africa for security and political reasons. We would want you to assist us to retrieve and transfer this fund to your countryfor safety and investment purposes. If you are willing to render this service to us, we shall adequately compensate you with 20% of the total figure. We will arrange all the necessary procedures in ensuring a smooth process for the transaction. We will also appreciate if you contact me once you receive this mail to enable me give you more details and modus operandi concerning the business.This matter requires your urgent attention, confidentiality and discretion no matter what your decision maybe. Thank you and God bless you. Yours Sincerely,Ahmed Savimbi
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