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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: "Miss ester" <esterttth@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: esters_smith@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 19:14:54 +0100
Subject: sincerely yours ester

Dearest,
how are you doing to in general, hope its well with?
please do not be angry with me if mode of contacting you will in any way offend you and do
permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you , l got your name and contact through the help of a friend whom works in cyber cafe here in Dakar Senegal and I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and the recommendation by the director for a reputable trustworthy person l can do business with and by the recommendation l must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business.
l am Miss ester Smith from Angola, the only daughter of late MR and MRS phillipo Santos smith.
My father was a very wealthy DIAMOND merchant in Luanda ANGOLA ,partner to ITM Mining Limited the economic capital Coast, he was shot by rebels of unita lead by Jonas savimbi and was rushed to hospital.
My mother died on the 20th October 1987 and my father took me so special because l am motherless.
Before the death of my father on 29th November 1999 in a private hospital in Luanda Angola, he secretly called me on his bedside,when I sat down to listen to him, he started crying, why?(1) he complained that I am too young to be managing my life, (2)that I have not finished my secondary education as he planned for me,(3)no body to take care of me again as a young boy, but after much crying, he still passed an instruction to me that he has a sum of US$17.500.000.00(SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) left in a fixed/suspense account in one of the prime banks here in Dakar SENEGAL, here through the help of his friend whom worked under united nation , that he used my name as his only child for his next of kin in the deposit of the funds.
He also explained to me that it was because of his wealth and diamond land were he have small local mining firm that's why he was attacked by rebels.
that l should seek for a God fearing foreign partner in any country of my choice where l will transfer this money and use it for proper investment purpose, that I must finish my university education by the help of a business partner in abroad,that he or she should help me obtain a resident permit in his or her country.
He also gave an out standing instruction to the bank that the money must be transferred outside this country before use, this is to make sure that I did not begin to make use of the money here so that his enemies will not get at me.
my dear, I am now ready to do all these things since my father my bread winner is no more,
l am Honorable seeking your assistance in the following ways.
( 1) to provide a bank account into which this money will be transferred to so that you will help me on the real investment of the cash when the money is transferred to your account.
(2) to serve as my guardian in your country while I will depend on your expert advise since l am a young girl of 24 years.
( 3 ) to make an arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover sir, l am willing to offer you some percentages % of the total money as compensation for your effort /input after the successful transfer of this funds to your account overseas or in your country,Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within fourteen ( 14 ) days of your signify interest to assist me.
Hoping to hearing from you soonest. via this email.(esters_smith@yahoo.com <mailto:esters_smith@yahoo.com>)
and do not forget to give me
your full name....
your address....
and phone number......
for easy communication.
May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to a needy young fellow.

<http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/angola/Angl998-07.htm>
or
<http://seanamo.tigblog.org/archive/08_2007?setlangcookie=true>
or
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Savimbi>
Best wishes
Best Regard.
ester smith



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