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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: "viviajohn@cantv.net" <viviajohn@cantv.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:57:14 -0430
Subject: From Mis vivian john

From Mis vivian john
Dear,
Please, do not be embarrassed with this letter as we have not seen or met before. My name is vivian john I am the only issue of my father Late Mr. Sodjo john, a wealthy cocoa merchant in the Northern part of Cote d’Ivoire, who was killed during war. My late father deposited the sum of Ten million five hundred thousand United State Dollars 10.5 million Usd with a bank  here in Cote d’Ivoire before his death. Dear, due to political situation in Cote d’Ivoire, I want you to assist me to transfer this money to your country and invest it in any available business line of your choice, as well help me to come over to your country to continue my education.
 
Please dear, reply me urgently so that I will introduce you to the bank  director as my family foreign partner as well my guardian for the transfer of this money to your bank account. I wait to welcome your reply as soon as posible. Thanks a million times for your concern and your capable assistance is highly needed in this transaction, basically due to your reputations and your enlightenment of handling issues to a standard solutions.
Thanks alot.
vivian john

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