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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: MERCY FREDRICK <mercy.fredrick@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: mercy_fredrick2@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:36:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: (From: Miss. Mercy Fredrick) Get back to me please



 
From: Miss. Mercy Fredrick
 
 
Dear respected one 

                          My warmest greeting to you,

I am miss Mercy Fredrick, I inheritated an important some from my late Mother who died in recent crisis in Cote d'Ivoire .  I wish to request for your assistance in investing this sum in lucrative venture or manufacturing and real estate management in your country. I have seven million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD ($7,500,000) to invest in this transaction and I require your assistance in receiving the fund in your account in your country.  I will gladly give you some reasonable percent from the total sum for your assistance.
 
Before her death on September 2007, she gave me all the necessary legal documents to the deposit of the fund in the bank, I am 20 years old. A university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds and after the transaction I will come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will be convenient for me to return back home if I so desire. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my mother actually brought sorrow to my life. I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of business world.
 
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you honestly help me from your heart?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account?
 
Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immediately I confirm your willingness, I will send to you my picture and also give you more details about myself and the bank were my late mother deposited the fund, so that you can reach the bank and confirm the existence of the fund as well, because seeing is believing.
 
Awaiting your immediate response and May God bless you. 
 
Best Regards

Miss Mercy Fredrick

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