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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: Michelle Robert <michelle100@faithserve.com>
Reply-To: michelle_robert100@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:40:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Michelle Robert I need you to assist me


>From Michelle Robert I  need you to assist me
Abidjan Cote d'ivoire
West Africa
 
                        Letter Of Relationship and Establishment of aid
Good day,
 
Permit me to inform you of our desire of going into business relationship with you. I am quite aware that my message will come to you as a surprise because it is indeed very strange for someone you have not met before to contact you in this regard.
l am Michelle Robert, the only child of late Chief and Mrs Gabriel Robert, My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan here, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their business meeting. My mother died on the 20th January 1988 and my father took me so special because l am motherless.

Before the death of my father on 27th December 2009 in a private hospital here in Abidjan, he secretly called me at his bedside,when I sat down to listen to him, he started crying, why? (1) He complained that I am too young to be managing my life with no one to take care of me,(2)That I have not finished my university education as he planned for me, he revealed to me that he has a sum of US$7,500.000.(SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) he left in security firm here in Abidjan, that he used my name as the only child for his next of kin in deposit of the funds.
 
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisioned by his business associates , that l should seek for a GOD fearing foreign partner in a country of my choice where l will transfer this money and use it for proper investment purpose ,that I must finish my university education by the help of a business partner abroad,that he or she should help me obtain a resident permit in his or her country.
Please, I am now ready to do all these since my father my bread winner is no more. l am honourable seeking your assistance in the following ways.
 
(1) To serve as my guardian in your country while I will depend on your expert advise since l am only 22 years.
(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover, l am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your assistance in the transfer of this fund to your country. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within seven days you signify interest to assist me by standing by me as my foreign trustee / guardian.

Hoping to hear from you soon. May God bless you as you as you extend your helping hand to an orphan.
                                           Best wishes
                                        Michelle Robert.
 

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