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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: "marklilian@cantv.net" <marklilian@cantv.net>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:54:07 -0430
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY.

GOOD A THING.
FROM:MARK ISACC
PRIVATE EMAIL:mark_lilian@cantv.net

THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF INTO. MY NAME IS MARK ISACC, I AM 16 YEARS OLD BOY, I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUST-WORTHY PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS IN A CAR CRASH WHEN OUR DRIVER WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE ACROSS THE RAILWAY WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE TRAIN WAS ALREADY AT THAT POINT WITH SPEED.

I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AT HOME WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER (LILIAN) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US$6,000,000.00 (SIX MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH IN A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY HERE. NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND I AND MY ONLY SISTER LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST US  TO RECIEVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS LIKE:
(1)REAL EXSTATE,
(2)IMPORT AND EXPORT
(3)TRANSPORTAION BUSSINES.
AND THEN RELOCATE US TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER. 
 
I GIVE ALMIGHTY GOD THE GLORY AND THANKS THAT MY FATHER DID NOT DIE IMMEDIATELY BUT HE DIED AFTER THREE DAYS OF THE EXPLOSION. HE GAVE ME ALL THIS INFORMATION WHILE HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL. I WILL BE VERY GLAD IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME CONTACT THE SECURITY COMPANY  WHERE MY FATHER DEPOSITED THIS FUNDS,I AM READY TO PASS TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS THAT MY FATHER GAVE TO ME ON HOW TO GET THIS FUNDS OUT  FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY IMMEDAITELY, ONLY IF YOU WILL PROMISE ME THAT I WILL NOT BE BETRAYED AT THE END,AM PREPARED TO GIVE YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE,AND 5% FOR ANY KIND OF NECESSITY.
 
I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.
 
REGARDS,
MARK ISACC.

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