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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: "kingsley mobutu" <kingsleymobutu29@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:45:23 +0100
Subject: PLS I NEED YOUR HELP.


Dear Sir,

I am kingsley MobutuI am writing to you this mail as to solicit your helpin
the transfer of my trunk box containing $45,000,000.00 US which was
deposited in a private security company by my late father ( Late President
Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire) with a private security company here in
Accra-Ghana.What I need is a reliable God fearing person like you that will
receive theconsignment on my behalf until my arrival to join you in your
country.Before the death of my late father he instructed me and my mother to
invest.

this funds abroad,because after the rebels forced my late fatheronexile
where he met his death we came to Ghana and took refuge under the UNHCR and
with our refugee status we are not authorized to have that huge amount of
money hence we need your assistance.Do state what percentage you wish to
receive for your assistance in this matter.Note that all legal documents
clearing the funds as clean and legitimate have .

been obtained but I am soliciting your help because due to our present
refugee status we cannot independently put claim.

.Truly Yours,
Kingsley Mobutu

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