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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: "Elisabeth Marume" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elimarume@live.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:34:04 -0700
Subject: Be My Guardian

Dearest Madam/Sir,

After much consideration and in good faith, I feel that I can confide in you. I am Elisabeth Marume
The daughter of the late senator Mr. Edwin Marume who was assassinated in Zimbabwe, but I am Presently in Abidjan, capital city of Ivory Coast in West Africa and I've been here for the past
two months now. My mother Mrs. Tabitha Marume, was also shot and killed by soldiers at Chiwetu Rest Camp, Percy Muchiwa, visit the website below for more details:
www.allafrica.com/stories/200805010665.html
I need you to assist me in withdrawing and transferring some funds (US$4.5M) which my father
deposited in one of the prime banks based here in Cote d'Ivoire into your account and also take
me and my only brother out of here as we are now orphans. I'm contacting you because I went to the bank to withdraw this money since my late father used my name as the next of kin to the deposit but I was told by the bank that my late father made an agreement with them that I have to get to the age of 25years before I can lay claims on the money or alternatively I should provide a guardian who can make the claim on my behalf and that is why I'm contacting you.
I humbly seek your assistance in the following ways:
1) To help get this money transferred to your account.
2) To serve as the guardian
3) To make arrangements for me and my kid brother to come over after this money is transferred.
4) To look for a good venture where the money will be invested.

I am ready to compensate you for your effort in assisting me.

Yours sincerely,
Elisabeth Marume.

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