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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: Poline John <polinejohn004@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: poline_john@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 05:26:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From : Miss Poline John !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



From : Miss Poline John
Abidjan Ivory coast.Pls i will like you
to get back to me from my private
Email : poline_john@yahoo.com

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; APPEAL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.
&nbsp;
Dear Respectful One,
&nbsp;
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I am&nbsp;Miss Poline John&nbsp;the only daugther of late Mr and Mrs Andany John, My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on the first of January 2007 on their travel to France for there new year celebration.
&nbsp;
My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before the death of my father on january 2007 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of Sixtteen Million Sevin hondred thounsan United State Dollars. US(16.7M) left in Fixed /Suspense account in one of the Prime Bank here in Abidjan that he used my name as his only daugther for the next of Kin in Depositing of the money.
&nbsp;
He told me that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money into and use it for investment purpose such as real estate management or hotel management and also for orphanages, helping the widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained and building companies where poor God people can work and have their daily feedings with their families.
I pray to God to grant you more blessing to your business and for making up your mind that you will be doing this for the benefit of the people who are in need. i know that God will see you through.
I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
&nbsp;(1) How should l trust you ?
&nbsp;
&nbsp;(2) Will you accept me as your daugther with all your mind. Am 20 years old.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;(3) Can you plan for my coming in to your country to establish a new life and continue my education as the money transfer into your bank account in your country and also secure my resdance permit.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;(4) Please tell me what will be your percentage on the total&nbsp; money for your assistance.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;(5) Hope you will not sit upon the money as it transfer into your bank account ? because the money is my last hope in life today.
&nbsp;
All the necessary arrangement has been made by the bank where my late father deposited this money and the director of the bank told me that as soon as I am ready with my foreign partner who will receive the Money will be transfer immidiatry.
&nbsp;
Waiting to hear from you so&nbsp; I will give you more details for us to proceed in this transfer which I beleive that before seven days , the money will be transfer in your bank account.
&nbsp;
Pls i will like you to get back to me from my private email:poline_john@yahoo.com
&nbsp;
Thanks,&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Yours Sincerely,
&nbsp;
Ms Poline John.



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