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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: stellajames00@gmail.com
Reply-To: stellajames915@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:11:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Your private email


Dear Friend,
 
I got your contact during my search for a reliable, trust worthy an honest person.
 
Am Stella James by name, my late father used to be a gold merchant, he married my mother and were together for 26yrs without a male child, so he subdued to pressure from his family to remarry, so that he could have a male child who shall be heir apparent, in the process he re-married two other women whom both later had male children for him, so after the demise of my father, we were thrown out and left without nothing to suffer in abject penury, until my late father's Attorney who informed us that my father indeed arranged some kind of security for our betterment and wellness by depositing some sum of money with a security and finance company and name me his eldest daughter next of kin and but the money can only be accessed to until I provide a reliable foreigner who has no link with sub-Saharan Africa who shall assist us claim this money, deposit same and assist us to re-locate overseas and to manage and oversee the investment wisely, according to the
Attorney, he said my father added these clause just to protect us, so that should any of his relation cannot gain access to this funds and I am glad that they can never be able to laid claim these at all.
 
All I require from you in other to fulfilled the clause added by my late father to provide a proof of someone reliable, a foreigner who has no link with sub-Saharan Region of Africa is for you to completely partner with me to claim this money and further investing and still overseeing the investment for me until I complete my higher education career.

For easy and more effectively communication, i request that you include your direct phone/mobile/fax number  and perhaps a scan copy of any of your identity.
 
Though my fears is that, i don't know if you will be honest and reliable? Because there is this saying which say" money is the root of all evil and this is why i have never seize in praying earnestly for God to direct me to someone who is his or her heart is after God’s heart.
 
So,if i may asked, can i actually count on your personality?
I look forward to hear from you soon
 
Yours sincerely,
Stella

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