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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: Pius Saidu Momoh <pius_momoh1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: pius_momoh10@cantv.net
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 15:12:15 -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.

Yours sincerely
Pius Saidu Momoh.



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