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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: SARAH JOHNSON <sarah.johnson55@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: sarah_johnson209@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 10:38:56 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re : Urgent.


>From Princess Sarah Johnson
Republic Of Cote D'Ivoire
Dear one,
I come across your profile and have Decided to get
in touch with you after the prayer,to see if you can
help me solve my problem.My name is Miss Sarah Maria
Johnson,Theonly child (Daughter) of (Late Chief Adam
Johnson) Who lost his life in the course of the
crisis here in Cote D'ivoire on the 7th of November
last year .MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN PERFECT
PEACE!!!.
 
My father willed in cash, the sum of $8.7 Million
US Dollars which he deposited in a Fixed/Suspence
account here in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire in west
Africa,with enabling conditions for the release of
the fund which are as follows:
 
(1) That I must be 22 years or above.
(2) That upon request for the release of the fund,
there must be evidence of investment intentions
especially outside the west africa,I contact you
therefore to confirm if you can absorb me in
partnership in your company or possibly advise me on
any investment opportunity in your country. 
When I reach agreement with you, the bank will release
my fund and transfer into an account that you shall
nominate and I will come over to you to commence
business partnership with the fund.
 
I expect your urgent response to assist me and I will
give you detail information of the bank for your verification.
Please feel free to contact me as soon as posible.
 
Thanks for expected cooperation.
My Regards,
Princess Sarah Johnson
 
 

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