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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: Ana Sarah <damsel3009482@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:44:47 +0100
Subject: Top Secret!

Hello,


Good day and how are you today? I found it very difficult to contact
you with this mail but I have that strong believe that you might be
able to help me out of my predicament and more so, you will be part of
the benefit as I believe you might be that God-sent person.

What really happened is that I was at a dating site 9 months ago
searching for a true love when I met a guy from UK base in Nigeria but
he's a black man and after several mails we agreed we meet and plan
for our life...So, I sent him money to buy a house myself and him are
going stay when I get over there....On getting there, he didn't buy
the house and I decided we stay in a hotel for some days while we sort
for a good house to buy and live together as family....Meanwhile, I
have closed all my accounts and took all the money I inherited from my
parents to where he stays which is ( $8.1m.usd ) cos my dad was an oil
dealer, art and gold merchant while mum was into gem stone ..they were
rich and I was willed the whole money. In a nutshell the African man
wanted to get me killed and made away with the money. I would never
have known his plan if not that I eavesdropped it on phone
conversation with some hired killers on the cordless phone...So I had
to find a way and ran out of the hotel and I kept the whole money in a
box at a Security Company in West Africa. So the money is still with
the Security Company right now.... so I have to get it shipped out
from the Security Company before I can get outta here... so while
trying to get another true love to get married to but a friend at the
new hotel where I am right now told me I should register with a dating
site that I will get someone loving, trustworthy and reliable I can
get married to and start my life... So I have made up my mind already
that until I find this person who I can give my life to, trust and
love ... then I will share it with him if God will use him to turn my
whole life for good... right now I don't have money to spend cos I
have used the last money on me to pay for the hotel and some other
bills and I don't have a dime. Please keep this as a secret as I don't
want anyone to know about it. More so, I won't be communicating to
anyone on any dating site again. Again, for you to help me receive the
two boxes while you act on behalf as the receiver of the boxes to the
security company, I will pay you 10% of the whole money which is (
$810,000.usd ). If you are ready to assist me, I will give you a
letter you will send to the security company containing my deposit
details and all information I used when depositing the boxes but note
that you don't have to let the security company know that the boxes
contain money cos I told them its my documents, cloths and shoes. But
being away, you will have to pay some money for shipment and clearance
fee before the boxes can be shipped to you. I need to be happy again
.... I want you to read this very well and tell me how you would feel
if you were in my shoes and tell me your mind about what I told you. I
will be expecting your mail as soon as you can get back to me.


Ana Sarah.

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