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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: Harry Fofana <hyfofana132@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <hryfofana@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:53:01 +0000
Subject: From Harry Fofana



MY NAME IS HARRY FOFANA, AN ACCOUNTANT WITH A PRIME BANK IN ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE. I KNOW THAT THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE . I AM WRITTING TO SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS MY PARTNER FOR TRANSFER INTO ANY ACCOUNT OVERSEAS THE SUM OF USD$7.2MILLION BELONGING TO OUR CLIENT WHO DIED IN 2003,IN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE AN ACCOUNT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY OPENED HERE IN MY BANK IN THE YEAR 1998 BY THE DESEACED BEFORE HER DEATH AND SINCE HER DEATH, THE ACCOUNT HAS REMAINED NON - OPERATIONAL. UNTIL HER DEATH,SHE WAS THE MANAGER OF PETRO-TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, A CHEMICAL ENGINEER BY PROFESSION. THE ACCOUNT IS A PRIVATE ACCOUNT WITHOUT NEXT OF KIN
IN CASE OF DEATH,SHE ONLY LEFT A CLAUSE STRICTLY FOR INVESTMENTS ABROAD.

AS AN INSIDER, AFTER GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES, I DISCOVERED THAT IF I DO NOT REMIT THIS MONEY OUT URGENTLY, THE BANK WILL RECALL THE MONEY INTO ITS TREASURY AND THAT WOULDN'T BE BENEFITTING TO ANYBODY SINCE NOBODY HAS FILED CLAIMS OF THE FUND. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO INVOLVE A FOREIGNER WITH A FOREIGN ACCOUNT WHO WILL CLAIM THE MONEY AS THE BENEFICIARY HOPING THAT YOU WILL NOT BETRAY MY TRUST ON YOU. I WILL NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION TO MAKE THIS WORK BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT IS READY TO APPROVE THIS PAYMENT TO ANY FOREIGNER WHO HAS CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT AND WHICH I WILL GIVE TO YOU, IMMEDIATELY YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST TO HANDLE SUCH AMOUNT IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND TRUST. BE REST ASSURED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RISK TO RUN IN THIS TRANSACTION AS I WILL USE MY POSITION AND INFLUENCE TO PROCURE LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND GET APPROVALS FOR THE TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I AM READY TO GIVE YOU 50% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, 50% WILL BE FOR ME, AFTER THE EXPENSES WHICH THE BOTH PARTIES MIGHT INCURE DURING THE PROCESS OF THE TRANSFER. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU UPON RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,HARRY FOFANA.
_________________________________________________________________
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