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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_momoh18@live.com>
Reply-To: pius_momoh10@cantv.net
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:25:59 -0200
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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