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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: Michel Robert <michelle@thesparkles.net>
Reply-To: michellerobert59@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:21:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Best wishes

Best wishes
From:Michelle Robert
12 BP 4010 Abidjan 12
Abidjan Cote d'ivoire

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 Michel 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 29th January 2010 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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