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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: "ellen odudu" <ellen_odudu8@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: c_odudu2007@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:48:12 +0200
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE!

From Mrs, Ellen Odudu,
No 23 Ebutele Street
Gwanda,Zimbabwe


Good Day ,

I NEED YOUR HUMBLE HELP PLEASE,,

I know how surprise this letter will come to you, but i would advice that
you consider it as a request from a family in dare need of assistance.I am
Mrs. Ellen Odudu the wife of Mr.Morgan Odudu of Gwanda town in Zimbabwe.Your
contact information came to me from your country's trade journal during my
search for a reliable and God fearing person that can assist me and my only
son, and I quite beleive on my own that you can be of great help in this
regard even if i am not acquainted to you before.

The business involves the transfer of EIGHTEEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED
THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS ONLY (US$18,700,000.00) into your account for safe
keeping. This fund is inherited from my late husband who was assasinated by
the president's (ROBERT MUGABE) aides in view of taking his lands and
property because of the crisis which lead to the killing and barnishing of
foreign(white) farmers. After the death of my husband (A day I can never
forget) I was approached by our family lawyer who told me that my late
husband had filed a document with him which stipulates his "WILL".In the
"WILL" he specifically pointed and I quote, Darling,

I wish to draw your attention to the sum of Eighteen Million Seven Hundred
Thousand U.S.Dollars(U.S$18.7M)which I deposited with a Security Company in
Johannesburg South Africa with all the documents filed by our lawyer. In
case of my absence on earth caused by death only, you should solicit for a
foreigner that can assist you to transfer the money out of there (SA)for
investment purposes. I have saved this money to make the future of my only
son "Christopher Odudu"From the above, you will understand that my future
especailly the future of my son depends on this money and as such I will be
grateful if you can assist us in transfering this fund to your account
overseas for our investments. You can contact my son "MR.Christopher Odudu"
in South Africa on Telephone: +27 -73-559-3506 or e-mail him at
(c_odudu2007@hotmail.com) , as he will direct you with our lawyer to arrange
the modalities of transfering this fund without any hitch.

For your assistance we have agreed to offer you 20% of the whole fund, 5%
for any expenses that may be incurred while the remaining 75% will be kept
for us under your care till our arrival in your country.God bless you for
your anticipated undertstanding and co-operation.


Best regards

Mrs Ellen Odudu.
(for the family)

_________________________________________________________________
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