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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: Samuel M Ige <smige042@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 15:28:37 +0000
Subject: I GREET YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD.



I GREET YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD. Please contact me for more details via only on this e-mail (smige244@hotmail.co.uk) with your reference. I am using this opportunity to seek for your help. I am Samuel Muyiwa Ige 23 years old and I don't have Parents. My father was the Late Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Bola Ige. He was Brutally murdered during our country's uprising of Last September Kano Tribal war which resulted in a civil crises that Have presently partially come to Order, After then my mother was hospitalized as a result of the shock, she died two months later in the hospital. Before now, I wanted to contact an African who will assist me in this business but later a friend of mine cautioned me that there are fraud activities in most of the African countries I then decided to search under internet online business directories in your country,when I came across your address, I was touched, There and then I made up my mind to contact you, I don’t expect that you will ignore me because if you help me out of this situation is for the sake of God who made it clear in the Holy Bible that whatsoever you expect somebody to do for you, do the same to them, so there is a blessing for every assistance. Before the death of my father, He Deposited the sum of USD5,500,0000(Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) For the Family in a Finance and Security company in Europe. This money he deposited as Security in the case of any unforeseen circumstances. I need your help to: 1)To help me contact the Security Firm in Europe to claim this funds into your account. 2)Help me come over to your country for investments and studies. Will discuss your interest if you are ready to help, Please Contact me for more details via my e-mail (smige244@hotmail.co.uk) with your reference. I shall await for your kind response.Truly Yours,Samuel M Ige,
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