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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "hundred thousand us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: miss Sarah martins <martinsarah2@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <sarahh.martins@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:54:25 +0100
Subject: Urgent Personal letter



Dearest one,
Compliment of the day. My name is Miss Sarah Apiah Martins, a young girl from Ghana. The source in which I saw your profile made me to contact you for help. I am the only surviving child to late Mr./ Mrs. Apiah Martins. My father and mother were famous farmers specialized in cocoa and gold business when they were both alive. After the death of my mother long ago my father decided not to Remarry because of the love he has for his wife and his only daughter so he took over the family business alone until he poisoned by his business associate after he was given the chairman of the association in Ghana known as the economic capital which he suffered the sickness and Died recently.

I am presently living alone in my country as an orphan.Before the death of my father in a private hospital in my country where he was admitted immediately I came back from Cotonou Benin Republic where I am schooling, he secretly called me in his bedside and told me about the sum of Ten million five hundred thousand US dollars ($10.5 million) he left in a Security company Vault here in Benin Republic, It was the money he Intended to transfer overseas for foreign investment before he was poisoned. He advised me to seek a foreign partner in any country of my choice to assist me transfer the money to foreign account because of my young age.

He advice me to make sure that I look for good person to Transfer the money where the money will be save and invested wisely. That the people who kill him may be after my life. After the burial I went to the Security Company Vault for the release of the money, the Chairman of the company told me that my father made an agreement with them that the money should be release to me only when I up to 28 years of age, or that I should appoint a guardian on my behalf.

Now I am facing a hell of pressures in my country now and the people who poisoned my father is after my life. I have been severely attacked by unknown gun men in the formal hotel where I been hiding, right now two young girl had been killed by this assassins in that hotel as a mistakes Of identity thinking that am the one. There was a rumor that I been killed but God is on my side. My uncle who was not in good term with my late father was the brain behind this incidence; meanwhile he has taken over my father business as well and was seeking for my life. My life was in danger and presently I am in a hideout where no one can see me. Right now, I am restless and in a total darkness condition.

Please, I came across your profile and I decided to contact you for help because you seem trustworthy and in my mind. Please if you help me out I will share my life and whatever I have with you in your country. Nobody is away of the money as I am talking to You now as advice by my late father may their souls rest in perfect Peace AMEN. I decided to seek your assistance to retrieve this fund from the security company and transfer the money to Your choice account where it will be invest wisely as my late father Advised. I will come over there to meet you and further my education after successful transfer of the funds to your account.

I need your help in the following ways:
(1) To serve as my guardian and assist to retrieve the money from the security vault into your choice nominated account (2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit for me in your country.(3) To serve as a guardian of the funds until I finish education and come of age to handle the money. To will invest the money in any business you know well in your country? Please your help will be highly appreciated, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total money as a reward for your assistance in the transfer and we shall discus your percents in any profits of the investments.

Please reply with your decision.Thanks as I hope to hear from you soon. Yours, Sarah Martins
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam