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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: Pius Saidu Momoh <pius_momoh1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: pius_momoh3@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:49:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Pius Saidu Momoh


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Pius Saidu Momoh and my
Sister's name
Grace, We
are
the children of Late Saidu Momoh the former Director of military
intelligence
and special acting General Manager of Sierra Leone Diamond mining
cooperation
(SLDMC). I am contacting you to seek your good assistance to transfer and
invest
fourteen million united state dollars ($14 Million) belonging to my late
father
which he deposited in a bank here in Abidjan. This money is revenues from
solid
minerals and diamonds sale which were under my father’s possession before
the
civil war broke out. Following the break out of the war, almost all
government
offices, operations and prostates were attacked and vandalized.

The
SLDMC
was loathed and burnt down to ashes, and diamonds worth millions of dollars
was
stolen by the rebel military forces that attacked my father’s office. Many
top
government officials and senior army officers were assassinated and my
father
was a key target because of his very sensitive military position and
appointment
in the SLDMC. Regrettably, my father was captured and murdered along with
half
brother in cool blood during a mid-night rebel shoot-out when our official
residence in Freetown was arm bushed by Fordey Sanko the notorious rebel
leader.
My mother sustainded very sever bullet injuries which resulted to her
untimely
and painful death in a private hospital here in Ivory Coast.

Now we
are
alone in a totally strange country without parents, relatives or any body
to
care for us at our tender ages. Before our mother died, she told us that
our
father deposited some money which he made from diamond sales and deposited
it in
a bank here in Ivory Coast and that we should pray and find a trust worthy
foreign business partner who will help us to transfer and invest this money
in
profitable business venture overseas.

She told us to do this quickly
so
that we can leave Ivory Coast and, then settle down abroad. She gave us the
bank
document to prove the deposit and then told us that my father used my name
as
the only son to deposit the money in the bank. She told us that this is the
reason why we came to Ivory Coast. My mother died after wards, may her
spirit
rest in perfect peace.

I have gone to the bank to make inquires
about
this money and I spoke with the Manager of International remittance who
assured
me that everything is intact and promised to help me transfer this money to
my
foreign partners bank account as soon as I provide my partners foreign bank
account for them. However, the manager is very concerned because of my age.
I am
20 years old and as such advised that I should look for a matured person
that
will represent me at the bank.

If you are willing to assist us,
please
let us know immediately so that you will arrange the transfer of the money
to
your account with the bank. Please note that we will offer you 20% of the
total
money as compensation for your noble assistance in accordance with my
mother’s
advice. We are interested in any profitable commercial venture which you
consider very well in your country and you would also get a school for me
and my
little sister so that we can finish our college education in your country.


Please there is urgent need for the money to be transferred to your
account and I am hoping to hear your urgent response so that I can not look
for
another foreign partner.


Thank you and may God bless you and your dear
family. Please email us at (pius_momoh10@cantv.net)

Yours sincerely
Pius Saidu Momoh.



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