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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: Marie Ahmed <marie_01ahmed@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: missmarieahmed15@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 10:19:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE


From Miss Marie Ahmed
01 BP Rue 14 Abidjan=20
Cote D Ivoire.
Email-=A0 (missmariea_hmed@myway.com)=A0=A0
=A0
=A0Dearest one,=A0
=A0Good a thing to write you. I have a proposal for you-this however is not=
mandatory nor=A0 Will I in anymanner compel you to honour against your Wil=
l your profile pushed me to send you this mail,I am Marie Ahmed 19 years ol=
d and the only Daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs.Hassan Ahmed..=A0 My =
father was a highly reputable business Magnet-(a cocoa and oil merchant)who=
operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days.It is sad to say th=
at he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips a=
broad=A0 on=A0 the 24th.November. 2003.Though his sudden death was linked o=
r rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travell=
ed with him at that time.But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was=
just 4 years old,and since then my father took me so special. Before his d=
eath he called the secretary who accompanied him to the hospital and told h=
im that he deposted the sum of the Six million,Three hundred thousand
United State=A0 Dollars.(USD$6.300,000) deposited in a suspence account wi=
th one of the local banks here in Abidjan,Ivory Coast in favour of me and i=
will like you to help me transfer this fund to your account. Now I am just=
19 years old and 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 incess=
ant political crisis here in Ivory coast.The death of my father actually br=
ought sorrow to my life.I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance =
in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.Dearest=
=A0 you will need to help me provide aGood Account where This Fund will be =
Transfered in your country.After which i can join you in your country to co=
mplete my university education. Now permit me to ask these few questions 1.=
Can you honestly help me as your sister?=20
2. Can I completely trust you?=20
3. What percentage of the total amount in question
will be good for you after the money is in your account?=A0 Please,Consider=
this and get back to me as soon as possible.Through my private email box T=
hank you so much and may God bless us.N/B..IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOU WRITE M=
E ON MY PRIVATE
EMAIL PROVIDED BELOW(missmariea_hmed@myway.com)
Regard
sMISS MARIE AHMED=0A=0A=0A

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