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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: "frank ziwos" <frankziwos0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ziwos@aol.com
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:26:10 +0200
Subject: From: Mr Frank Ziwos,


*From: Mr Frank Ziwos,*
*Abidjan , Ivory Coast*
*Rue 2 plateaux les perles*
*Dear One,
I know you will be surprise to receive my mail since we have neither seen
nor met before. Well, let me start by first introducing myself to you. My
name is Mr Frank Ziwos, the only son to Late Mr George Ziwos. My father was
assassinated on his way to his office and since the sudden assassination of
my beloved father I have been leaving in terrible fear, couple with the
political crisis here in my country cote d'ivore. I am planing to travel out
of the country, that is why I have decided to contact you to help me contact
the bank for the transfer of the money my father deposited the sum of $4.5
million US dollar in a bank here before his sudden assassination. I will
give you more informations as soon as you guarranttee me that you will treat
me honestly during the investment of this money in your country.
Dear, as you can see this money is my hope of survival and I am entrusting
this money on you with faith and believe that you will treat me in good
faith during my stay in your country. I will like you to also assure me that
you will honestly manage this money for me in the business which the money
will be invested, as soon as you give me this guranttee I will then give you
all the neccessary details concerning this money which will enable you
contact the bank on my behalf. I shall send you the document the bank issue
to my late father when
he made the deposit in the bank and my picture for you to see me and I will
also like you to send me your picture for more trust and confidence.
Contact me on this e-mail address; ziwos@aol.com** any delay in your reply
will give me room in sourcing another person,
May God bless you as I wait to hear from you soon.
Yours *
*Mr Frank Ziwos.*

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