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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: <maria52akane@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:26:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Maria Akane

Abidjan, C&ocirc;te D'Ivoire

My dear,
please, answer me because this is a great help of you.
I am Maria Akane the girl of late Dr. Akane which was the Chairman of board of mineral ressources, had deposited the box of money of 12.5 millons of dollars in a security company before his death for the construction of the factory of shelling of cotton. Because of security, the box was
deposited as an invaluable object of family, but nobody knows that this box contains money including the security company. It is you and me let us know that this box contains money. I would like that you help me to quickly carrying the box to get to me. I will wait seriously to have your news as
soon as you receive this mail.

Respectfully yours
Sister Maria Akane,



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