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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: "MISS ROSEMARY HODONOU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rosemhod@live.fr>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 13:22:02 +0800
Subject: Good Day To You,

Good Day To You,


I am Miss Rosemary Hodonou,a 19 year old girl writing you today from Benin Republic to assist me in securing my father's wealth.I am originally from Sierra Leone.I came to this country,Benin as a refugee with my parents when I was 8 years old.In July 2006 my parents and my two youger ones died in an accident and I was the only one left.I am now going to finish my secondary school only with kind assistance of the minister of education.The ministry of education extendedscholarship to me and others in our school who has similar problem of lack of sponsor.


This is how I hope to finish my secondary school this year. I am therefore asking you through this email to act as my gurdian so that you can help me secure my father's money.I have gone to the bank where this money is deposited to claim it but the manager of the bank said I can not process it because of my age.He told me that I must be 22 years plus or married before I can claim it.The officer in the bank advised me to get any older relative,but when I told him that I have none as I don't know if I can ever find any of my father's relatives again.



Then he advised me to get even a guardian who will process it for me. Because of what I have seen here in Africa,I don't want be here anymore,once I finish my school hope to leave Africa.Now I want you to act as my guardian so that the $4.7M in my father's account will be transfered into your account.If you do this for me,I will be forevergrateful to you.


If you accept to give me this great help,write me back without delay through my Email:rosemhod@live.fr

yours sincerely

Miss RoseMary Hodonou


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