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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: "Ramatou Ammidu" <ramatou_ammidu@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:11:40 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Please Reply Immediatly


HELLO DEAR, =20

I AM MADAM MRS, RAMATOU AMMIDU, I AM A WIDOW BEING THAT I LOST MY GO=
OD HUSBAND, AS HE WAS A SERVING DIRECTOR OF A COCOA AND PETROLUM EXPORT=
ING BOARD UNTILL HIS SUDDEN DEATH UNDER AN ASSASSINATION.

HE WAS ASSASSINATED BY THE REBELS FOLLOWING THE POLITICAL UPRISING, =
BUT BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE MADE A CASH DEPOSIT OF TWO MILLION, FIVE HUNDR=
ED THOUSAND USA DOLLARS ( $2,500,000 ) HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU, THE CENTRAL=
CAPITAL OF BURKINA-FASO. THIS MONEY WAS LODGED IN ONE OF THE SECURITY =
COMPANY HERE IN THE CITY CAPITAL, FOR HE INTENDED BUYING SOME COCOA AND=
PETROLUM PROCESSING MACHINES WITH THIS FUND.

I NOW THEREFORE, NEED YOUR HELP FOR US TO PULL OUT THIS MONEY IMMEDI=
ATLY FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY WHERE IT IS BEEN DEPOSITED, AND THEN TRA=
NSFER IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY OR ANY OTHER=
PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE, AS YOU WILL BE THE BENEFICIARY AND THE RECEIPIEN=
T OF THE FUND WHICH WE ARE GOING TO USE FOR OUR JOINT LIFE INVESTMENT I=
N YOUR COUNTRY AS I SHALL BE COMING OVER TO MEET WITH YOU.

I HAVE GOOD PLANS TO DO A PERFECT INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY, LIKE RE=
AL ESTATE AND SOME INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION AS WELL WITH YOU. PLEASE THIS=
IS THE MORE REASON WHY I CONTACTED YOU IN GOOD FATE AND IF YOU ARE REA=
LY WILLING TO ASSIST ME AND THAT OF MY ONLY LITTLE DAUGHTER BY NAME Ms.=
RAMATOU KHABAI, KINDLY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY REPLYING ME IMMEDIATLY=
SO AS TO DIRECT YOU ON WHAT NEXT TO DO.

MANY THANKS WITH LOVE REGARDS AS I WAIT FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.

MRS, RAMATOU AMMIDU



Un 2007 de Ins=F3lito, Deporte, Cine o Belleza... =A1Feliz Navidad! htt=
p://pan.starmedia.com/especiales/navidad07/portada/index.html

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