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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: "ROBERT FLEMING" <robertfleming001@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:08:34 +0100
Subject: HELP PLEASE

FROM MR. ROBERT FLEMING

LIBERIA WEST AFRICA

DEAREST ONE,

I AM MR. ROBERT FLEMING 29 YEARS OLD FROM LIBERIA, AND I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP TO TRANSFER A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY DEAD FATHER LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED.THIS MONEY IS USD 7.5 MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS AND THE MONEY IS LEFT IN FIXED/SUSPENSE ESCROW ACCONT OF A FINANCIAL COMPANY HERE IN DAKAR SENEGAL, AS A DECEASE FUND.
MY FATHER (LATE) DR. LOYOLA S. FLEMING JR. THE FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE UNDER THE EXECUTIVE CIVILIAN PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA, BUT WAS ASSASINATED BY THE REBELS DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND I NARROWLY ESCAPED WITH THE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS OF THE DEPOSITED MONEY TO DAKAR SENEGAL WHERE I AM NOW SEEKING ASYLUM UNDER (UNHCR).
HOWEVER, I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT PENDING WHEN I WILL COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR US TO MEET FOR INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY. I ONLY WANT THIS TO BE DONE THIS WAY BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY IS POLITICALLY STABLE FOR ANY PROFITABLE INVESTMENT, AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD HERE THAT IF ACCEPTED BY YOU, YOU WILL SERVE AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE MONEY.
I FEEL CONFIDENCE TO INTRODUCE THIS OFFER TO YOU, YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS TRANSFER, I HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU 17% OF THE TOTAL MONEY. THEREFORE, IF ACCEPTED BY YOU, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FURNISH ME BACK IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS REQUEST TO TRANSFER THE MONEY FROM DAKAR SENEGAL TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
ON COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION I WANT TO LET YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUTURE OF MYSELF DEPENDS SOLELY ON THIS MONEY, SO PLEASE KEEP THIS BUSINESS TO YOURSELF ONLY TO AVOID RAISE EYE BROW OF ANY THIRD PARTY.
I AM EAGERLY EXPECTING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
YOURS SINCERLY,
ROBERT FLEMING.


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