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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: "davis masuku" <davismasuku29@gala.net>
Reply-To: david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:00:13 +0200
Subject: From David Masuku (Jnr.)


*From David Masuku (Jnr.)
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
West Africa.*
* *
*Good Day Dear,*
* *
*I deem it a respect and honour as well as priviledge to write you, on my
deep conviction about you,after my deligent search for a honest and
trustworthy someone who will assist me,of which I have chosen you to assist
me for the transfer of an inheritance,which I inherited from my late father
that was poisoned to death by his relatives associates out of enviness.*
* *
*My name is Prince Davis Masuku,I am 18yrs old,a native of Sierra-leone in
West African region in the local districk of Konobo and am the only child of
late Chief Lansan Masuku,my late father is a Diamond Officer in the Republic
of Sierra-leone.But before his death in a private hospital here in Abidjan
where he was brought for us to fly oversaes for his medical care before he
suddenly died, he told me of a fixed deposit of US$8,000,000 he had with a
bank in Abidjan here,which he made me the next of kin because my mother died
when I was two yrs old.*
* *
*I have met the bank manager and declared to him my intention to transfer
this fund out of Africa,as adviced me by my father for my security and of
the money,which I want to, further my education overseas and for investment
purposes,and he is asking me for my guardian,in order to terminate the Fixed
investement and release of the fund,as signed in the Agreement Bond with the
Bank Authority, in case of sudden death.,which I need your assistance to
present you to the bank as my guardian for the transfer of this money into a
new opened genuine account for a good and confortable life in your country
after my education.

Please remember the confidentiality and urgency my mail required for my
security while I expect to read from you to my private Alternative e-mail *
david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au<http://us.mc381.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au>
*Thanks and remain blessed.*
* *
*Prince David Masuku (Jnr.)*

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