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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: "angela koffi" <angelakoffi@latinmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 11:04:36 +0100 (CET)
Subject: DEAREST ONE


DEAREST ONE=20

FIRST I AM SORRY FOR INTRUDING INTO YOUR PRIVACY.
I AM MISS ANGELA KOFFI, 22YEARS OLD GIRL THE ONLY DAUGTHER OF DR LUKE N=
ORIO KOFFI /CEO OF THE SIERRA-LEONE NATIONAL GOLD & DIAMOND MINING CORP=
ORATION WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY UNKNOWN GUN MEN ON HIS WAY TO HIS RESI=
DENTIAL HOME. HOWEVER, BEFORE MY FATHER GAVE UP TO THE GHOST HE DEPOSIT=
ED THE SUM OF FOUR MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLAR (USD$4=
5,000.000) IN ONE METALLIC TRUNK BOX INTO AN ABIDJAN BASE SECURITY COM=
PANY UNDER THE COVERAGE OF FAMILY VALUABLES USING MY NAME AS THE NEXT O=
F KIN.

HE ALSO MADE ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HIS BROTHERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HI=
S DEATH AND INSTRUCTED ME TO LOOK FOR A FOREIGNER WHO WILL HELP ME TRAN=
SFER THIS FUND AND INVEST IT WISELY ABROAD AND TO PROVE IT ALL, SIX MON=
TH AFTER MY PARENTS DEATH HIS BROTHERS SOLD ALL HIS PROPERTIES INCLUDIN=
G OUR FAMILY HOUSE AND NOW SEEKING TO KILL ME TOO.
DEAR, I AM HONORABLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME SIGN-OUT TH=
E BOXES FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TRANSFER THIS FUNDS TO YOUR COUNT=
RY POSSIBLY THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT IF WE CAN REACH A COMPROMISE BECAUSE Y=
OU WILL STAND AS THE GUARDIAN TO THIS FUNDS WHILE I FURTHER MY EDUCATIO=
N IN YOUR COUNTRY
I AM SENDING THIS LETTER FROM IVORY COAST WHERE I TAKING REFUGE AFTER M=
Y LATE PARENTS WERE ASSASSINATED.
IT IS MY PLEASURE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BELIEVI=
NG THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US, ALSO HOPE YOU=
WILL NOT LOOKDOWN THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE I PUT IN YOU.=20

I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION=92S WHY I CONTACT YOU IMMEDIATELY I=
GET A POSITIVE REPLY FROM YOU. AND PLZ YOU CON CONTACT ME WITH MY NEW =
EMAIL (ANGELA_KOFFI@HOTMAIL.FR) =20

THANKS
YOU=92RE SINCERELY=20
MISS ANGELA KOFFI.


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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