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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: "bea kouassi" <bea_01kouassi@centrum.sk>
Date: Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:11:44 +0200
Subject: WITH DUE RESPECT


WITH DUE RESPECT
DEAREST ONE,
SINCERELY I KNOW THAT THIS LETTER WILL COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MET BEFORE OR SPOKEN ON TELEPHONE FORMALLY BEFORE BUT DUE TO THE URGENCY INVOLVED THAT’S WHY I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU IMMEDIATELY WITH PRIOR FORMALITY.
IN BRIEF INTRODUCTION I AM MS. ROSE-FLORE BEA KOUASSI, THE DAUGHTER OF FORMER COMTE D’ABIDJAN (EMILE BOA KOUASSI) LATE IN MEMORY.I AM SENDING THIS LETTER FROM COTE D' IVOIRE WHERE I AM PRESENTLY LIVING. THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE EVENTS IN COTE D’IVOIRE HOWEVER DURING THE DISTURBANCE AND PRIOR TO MY FATHER’S DEATH HE SHOWED ME A CERTIFICATE MEANT FOR A DEPOSIT KEPT IN A BANK HERE IN COTE D' IVOIRE. THE CERTIFICATE CONTAINS A DEPOSIT OF FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS. I HAVE GONE TO THE BANK TO CONFIRM AND ESTABLISHED OWNERSHIP AS THE NEXT OF KIN.
RIGHT NOW PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP IN TRANSFERRING THIS FUND TO YOUR COUNTRY BUT PERSONALLY IT IS THE FEAR OF BETRAYAL FROM ANY ONE ARROUND ME HERE THAT INFORMED MY DECISION TO CONTACT A NEUTRAL INDIVIDUAL OUT SIDE AFRICA LIKE YOU WHO WILL NOT CHEAT OR BETRAY ME.
AND I WANT YOU TO EDUCATE ME ON OTHER INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN YOUR COUNTRY SINCE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO INVEST OR STAY IN ANY OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES DUE TO POLITICAL CRISIS AND PERSECUTION. IF MY PROPOSAL AROUSES YOUR INTEREST DO NOT HESITATE TO REPLY ME FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION AND INFORMATIONS.
FINALLY PLEASE YOU KNOW WE NEED ABSOLUTE TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION TO ENSURE SUCCESS AS MY ENTIRE HOPE AND SURVIVAL IS PLACED ON THIS TRANSACTION, PLEASE REACH ME WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL.[ bea_k02@yahoo.com ]&nbsp;
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTISIPATED CO-PERATION AND GOD BLESS YOU&nbsp;
YOURS SINCERELY,
ROSE-FLORE BEA KOUASSI.



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