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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: Mrs Caro Edward <mrscaroedward2001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:30:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good day...!!


P {
MARGIN: 0px
}
UL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}
OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}







































 
CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
FROM:MRS CAROLINE EDWARD
              OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA
FASO
RE: INVESTMENT
ASSISTANCE.
 
 
I am writing with my personal respect
with regards to your reposed personality / firm as a reliable, Trustworthy and
God fearing.  I got your contact through the help a friend who
works at the Chamber of Commerce in Ouagadougou the Capital of Burkina Faso.

 
In deed I am the wife of Late MR.
EDWARD JOHNSON from Sierra
Leone .I and my two children are presently staying in Burkina Faso as Refugees, my husband
was one of the Ministers of Johnny Paul Koromah' s regime in Sierra Leone .
During the intervention of the ECOMOG Soldiers to Restore the presidency of
Alhaji Tejan KABBAH from Johnny Koromah, my husband was among the 23 executed
Ministers. As our breadwinner is dead (my husband) And our stay in Sierra Leone
is no more safe, I and my Two children decided to move to Burkina Faso a
Neighboring African Country for safety. Due to our Status in Burkina Faso as
refugees I was forced to Lodge our family funds (
US$ 13.4 Million) in a finance house.

 
Since then we have been receiving help
from our Mission,because we are staying in one of the Visitor's villa in the
church premises and attends Fellowship and worship fully. I hope you will be
Touched to understand my request. We have agreed to invest our money in a viable
business venture overseas country through your assistance and directives. You
will provide or look for a lucrative business venture where this money can be
invested on. Before proceeding further, we will get to be more familiar and also
go into an understanding working agreement because our family's Future now
depends on this money. The boxes containing the money and treasures were all
deposited and registered as family treasures. This was done for Security reasons
we would like to know what you will take as your percentage for assisting us. We
sincerely wish to introduce and make you our Business Partner and overseer of
our proposed Investment in your Country. We are prepared to send all the
documents regarding to this deposit as soon as you show your concerned interest
through an email response including the following
 
1: Your full names and office or
residential
address................
2: Private telephone and fax
numbers.................
3: Your private email
address.......................
 
 
Best regards,
 
Mrs. Caroline
Edward.



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