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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: James Douglas <jamesdouglasci104@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <jamescolemartins_4@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 14:12:46 +0100
Subject: From: James Douglas



From: James DouglasAddress: 24 Rue de TrechvilleAbidjan Cote d'ivoire.

GREETINGS,

This letter may come to you as a suprise based on the fact that I have not had any previous contact with you. Briefly, I am James Douglas, 23 years old, the only son of late Mr. Philip Douglas former director of Gold and Diamond Corporation who was murdered by assasins believed to be working for his political enemies. Shortly before this unfortunate incident, my father had informed me about an important business deal he had executed with some of his colleagues in the office. He told me that he had diverted some money totaling Twenty one million US dollars (US$21.M) which they had realized from the sale of gold and diamonds in the black market. He showed me some lodgement documents with which he had deposited the money with a prime bank in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire. He informed me in confidence that he is in agreement with the bank that the money must be transferred to his overseas partner who would soon forward his account information to them for the transfer, as they proposed the money for foreign investment.

When the political situation in my country worsened, I escaped into Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire and had since contacted the bank. identified myself properly and informed them about the sad fate my father had suffered.I presented the lodgement documents and they confirmed that they have this amount under their custody. So I informed them that I intend initiating contacts with my fathers overseas partner who owns the money so that he can contact them for the transfer.

My decision to retrive and transfer the money now and to start a new life forms the basis of this enquiry from you. I'm alone in this strange country suffering without any care or help. without any relation, I am now like refugee and orphan. My only hope now is in this fund my father deposited in the bank. To this effect, I humbly solicit your assistance in the followings ways,

(1) To assist me retrieve this money from the bank as my father's business parthner abroad and co-beneficiary and they will transfer the money in your country or any safe place you advice.(2) To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on my behalf in your country and you as the caretaker(3) To secure a college for me in your country to further my education and to make arrangement for my travel with you to your country after you have transferred this money to your account.

If you can assist me on these points above, I shall give you 20% of the total money while setting aside 5% for all incidental expenses that may arise in the course of actualising the transaction (such expenses as phone calls, fax messages and taxes in your country if any) Please i need to inform you that this matter is confidential, I want you to treat it as such please.

Best regards,James Douglas
_________________________________________________________________
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