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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: Mirabel Koffi <mirabel_c08@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mirabel_k0000@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:40:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM MIRABEL KOFFI


My Dear,

It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my younger brother Joseph, intend to establish with you in your country.

Though I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to risk confidence and unalloyed trust in other to succeed sometimes in life. There is this huge amount of Five million U.S dollars($5,000,000.00) which my late father kept for us in a Security Company in
Abidjan before he was assasinated with my mother by unidentified militant group during the time of war in my country Siera Leone.Then,he was an Army Commander fighting for Government.

Now I and my brother have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.We are now in Abidjan as refugees. We want you to help us claim and retrieve these fund from the Fiduciary Fund Holders and transfer it into your personal account in your country for investment purposes on these areas:

1). Telecommunication
2).The Transport industry
3). Five star hotel

If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased in our minds to offer you 10% of the total fund.

I awaits your soonest response if you are really willing and sincere to help us.I can then tell you the details on how to claim the stipulated fund.

Yours respectfully,
Miss Mirabel Koffi.


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