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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: SISTER CECILIA <sister.cecilia1@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: sistercecilia1@rediffmail.com
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:43:35 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From: Sister Cecilia



From: Sister Cecilia 
 
Hello my dear,
 

I know you will be surprised to receive this proposal. Actually I got your contact address from the Internet when I was making an intensive research for my investment in your country then I decided to contact you directly. First, I must introduce myself to you. My name is Mrs Cecilia, former staff of Air Afrique hostess a nationality Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa. I am a widow being that I lost my husband some year's ago. My husband, late Mr Sabastin Wiebe, was a serving director of the GOLD exporting board until his death. He was assassinated in 14th January (2010) by the rebels following a political uprising.
 
Before his death, he had an account with a bank in a Suspense account here in Cote d’Ivoire up to the tune of s Seven million United State dollars ($7, 000000.00).  However, due to my bad health situation occasioned by cancer of the lungs, I wish you to do me a favour to receive this fund to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the beneficiary so that you will invest it in a good business venture like real estate and industrial production for the benefit and education of my son, and he is only 17yrs old, who will be coming to stay under your kind  custody after the transfer for his education and future because my health is failing me.
 
At this present, I am too weak and down and am afraid that I might not survive my situation but God knows the best and I pray that whatever happens to me, you should take care of my son Moses for me. I shall be going in for a surgery operations of the cancer of the lungs soon and desire this money to be transferred to you fast. I do not wish to leave this money in the bank because bankers might take advantage of my son's age who is just 17years old and too young to handle this kind of money.
 
My late husband’s relatives who should have handled this situation for me are not good type. Since my illness, they have succeeded in stealing most of my late husband's properties except this money which they do not know about and I do not want my only son Moses to get involved with them because they are dangerous and greedy.
 
I will be submitting your name to the bank where my late husband deposited this money and confirm you as our family friend whom I wish this money to be transferred to. We have also mapped out 65% for ourselves, 35% for your cordial assistance. Remain bless as I look forward to hear from you with this information’s as follows: for further instruction on what to do.
 
Name....... Age…....  Nationality… .Fax…...... Telephone….........Private Email............
  Thanks and may God bless you.
Sister Cecilia and Son.

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