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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: Salma Muhammad <salmamuhammad2000@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: salma_muha9@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:08:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From : Salma Muhammad.


From : Salma=A0 Muhammad.
55 Boulevard Roume | 04 BP 1885, Abidjan 17785
Cote D' Ivoire West Africa.
=A0
My Dearest One,
You may be surprise to receive my mail today ,How are you and your business=
,i hope all is well.I know that my message will come to you as a surprise s=
ince i don't know=A0 you in person or meet with you before,please I have a =
problem which I needed a help from you,I have decided to write you for help=
.. I have a=A0 proposal for you-this, however is not mandatory nor will I in=
any manner=A0 compel you to honour against your will.I am in a state of de=
linma and=A0 your profile pushed me to send you this mail, I am Salma=A0 Mu=
hammad=A0 from=A0 SIERRE-LEONE Country and the only daughter of my late par=
ents Mr. and Mrs.Hassan=A0 Muhammad.=A0 My father was a highly reputable bu=
siness magnet (a cocoa=A0 merchant) who operated in the capital of Ivory co=
ast during his days.
=A0
It=A0 is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one o=
f=A0 his business trips abroad on 12th.Febuary 2007.Though his sudden death=
=A0 was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of=
=A0 his who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My=A0=
mother died when I was just 8 years old, and since then my father took=A0 =
me so special.=20
Before the death of my father on 12/2/ 2007 he secretly called me on his=A0=
bed side and told me that he has the sum of US$ 15M (FiFteen million,Unite=
d=A0 State Dollars). left in fixed/suspense account in one of the prime ban=
ks=A0 here in Abidjan that he used my name as his only daughter for the nex=
t of Kin in depositing of the fund.
I am just a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. This=
is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of=A0 incessant =
political crisis here Abidjan in Ivory coast. The death of my father=A0 act=
ually brought sorrow to my life.I am in a sincere desire of your humble ass=
istance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly=A0 regard=
ed.=20
=A0Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
1. Can you honestly help me as your daughter?
2. Can I completely trust you?
(00225-05-39-30-38)
(s_m2007@centrum.sk)
It will be good for you after the money is in your account?=A0 Please, Cons=
ider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you so much, May God bless you and your family as you come my aid.
From Yours sincerely
Salma Muhammad=0A=0A=0A

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