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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: Prive Link <privelink@ssummail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 09:43:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please take me as One of your family member

Please take me as One of your family member
Dear Sir,

Good-day, I have a very big problem and need your personal help as my second God. I am Bright Johnson, of 27 years old boy from Abidjan Cote D`Iviore , I lost my father and my mother with others the same day during the war of the country and they where all killed the luck that I heard was that I was in the school in another cite if not I could been killed as well and I thank God in all.

I fined deposit slip receipt of $8.700.000.00 that my father deposited (Fixed Deposit) with one bank here in Abidjan Cote D`Iviore . My late father was a Cocoa Merchant for years , I think there he made the money.

I want to the bank for some confirmations and the bank manager told me that the money is there in a fixed deposit and for me to have the money that I should get a letter from the high court as the next of king of the funds and a death certificate of my father and the money will be transferred to the next of the kings account.

Now that I have decide to leave the country to your country where I will spend all my life, I prayed and decide to contact you for your good caring help by you taking me as one of your family member or son and you can take it and I promised to hear your advice in all that I will do to become somebody in life.

On this note I real need you help to get this money transferred into your account as the next of king of this fund and I will be grateful to have you in my life and be truthful to you and your family.

I will be happy to hear from you.

Yours Brother (Son)

Bright Johnson

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