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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: Ruth Don <ruthdon80@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:47:36 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: THIS IS MY FULL LIFE STORY WITH LOVE AND TRUST



Hello Dearest ,
I am more than happy in your reply to my mail.
How are you? How is your day hope fine.?.
Mine is a little bit cool over here in  Dakar Senegal
In this camp we are only allowed to go out from the camp only on few
days  of the weeks.Its just like one staying in the prison and i hope
by Gods grace i will come out here soon.I don't have any relative now
whom we can go to all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war the
only person i have now is  Reverned Peter  Mambo
 who is the pastor of the (Christ the King Church ) here in the camp he
has been very nice to me since i came here but i am not living with him
rather i am leaving in the women's hostel because the camp have two
hostels one for men the other for women.
 The Pastors Tel number is (+221777442961) if you call and tell him
that you want to speak with me he will send for me in the hostel. As a
refugee here i don't have any right or privilege to any thing be it
money or whatever because it is against the law of this country.I want to
go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the
tragic incident that lead to my being in this situation now took place.
Please listen to this,i have my late father,s death certificate and
his deposite certificate here with me , because when he was alive he
deposited some amount of money in one of the leading banks in Europe which
he used my name as the next of kin,the amount in question is $5.7(Five
Million Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars). So i will like you to help
me transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some
money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come over to
meet with you. I kept this secret to people in the camp here the only
person that knows about it is the Reverend because he is like a father
to me.
So in the light of above i will like you to keep it to yourself and
don't tell it to anyone for i am afraid of loosing my life and the money
if people gets to know about it. Remember i am giving you all this
information due to the trust i deposed on you.I like honest and
understanding people,truthful and a man of vision,truth and hardworking.
My favorite language is English cos is  our country language but we
speak french here in Senegal .Meanwhile i will like you to call me like i
said i have a lot to tell you..
Have a nice day and think about me.
Awaiting to hear from you soonest
Yours in love.
RUTH






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