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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: "misslindawilliams82@cantv.net" <misslindawilliams82@cantv.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 10:12:02 -0430
Subject: Hello My Dear, Happy New Year

Dearest One,
 
I am looking for a prospective foreign representative partner to establish an investment company abroad due to political economic crisis in my country now Abidjan. Permit me to inform you of our desire of going into business relationship with you’d am quite aware that my message will come to you as a surprise because it is indeed very strange for someone you have not met before to contact you in this regard. I am able to come across your personal email and here is what I want me and you to deliberate on how we can get me and this money   out and then can be able to organize our future life over there before the Rebels will kill me here.

I am Miss.Linda Williams the only daughter of late Mr. and Mrs.Austine Williams, My father was a very wealthy Cocoa merchant in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on February 2008.
My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father is the one taking care of me till his death. Before the death of my father in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of (Nine million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars).USD ($9.500, 000, 00) left in fixed / suspense account in one of the Good bank here in Abidjan, that he used my name as his only daughter for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in Abroad in any country of my choice where the bank will l transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as real estate or hotel management if he is no more alive because as his condition he will not survive and my father letter died and Since then my Condition is so bad and include with the Political Problem here in Abidjan I decided  to ask the bank to Release this Fund into Account in Abroad as My Late Father Directed me before his death and I don’t want the Rebels to kill me here.

Please, I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) to serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 19years old Girl.
(2) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred to
(3) to make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and also to secure a resident permit in your country for me.
 
Moreover,   I promise to offer you 30% of the total amount as compensation for your assistance, and while the remaining 70% will be for me which shall be use for investment according to your advice because I will continue my educational carrier as soon as I come over to your country after the bank transfer.
     
Furthermore, Pls indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be conclude within seven (7) days you signify your interest to assist me.
Anticipating hearing from you urgently.
 
Thanks and God bless.
Yours Sincerely,
Miss.Linda Williams 

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