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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:33:44 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY,


GOOD DAY,

MY NAME IS KOFFI PATRICK FROM IVORY COAST. I AM THE ONLY SON OF MR & MRS
PATRICK , I WANT YOU TO HELP ME AND MY YOUNGER SISTER INVEST IN YOUR
COUNTRY. I LOST MY MOTHER AT THE AGE OF 10, MY FATHER WAS
POISONED TO DEATH DURING THE WAR HERE IN COTE D'IVOIRE. BEFORE THE DEATH OF
MY LATE FATHER HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF 7MILLION DOLLARS IN A PRIVATE
SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN COTE D'IVOIRE OF WHICH I AM THE BENEFICIARY.

BUT DUE TO THE POLITICAL PROBLEM HERE AND THE REASON BEHIND MY PARENTS
DEATH; I WILL NOT WISH TO INVEST HERE, SO I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME TRANSFER
THIS FUND TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE.
AS FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU A GOOD %. CONTACT ME
BACK IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING ME, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ON
HOW TO BRING FRUITFUL OF THIS TRANSFER.

REGARDS,

KOFFI PATRICK

Anti-fraud resources: