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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: Pauline Conteh <paulineconteh@voila.fr>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:41:30 GMT
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,
 
I am writing with respect and regards to your reposed personality / firm as reliable,trustworthy and God fearing. I got your contact through the help of chamber of commerce in Abidjan the capital of COTE D'IVOIRE.
 
In deed i am the wife of Late MR USMAN CONTEH from Sierra Leone . I and my two children are presently staying in Burkina- faso as refugees, my husband was one of the ministers of Johnny Paul Koromah' s regime in Sierra Leone . My Late husband deposited $25.5M usd in a security company in Burkina faso before his death,
 
knowing that the situation in our country SIERRE LEONE is very volatile during the regime of Johnny Koromah, he decided to keep the money for his children upkeep and future, he lodged the money as family treasures and valuables belonging to him and a foreign business associate and we have the documents and proofs of ownership to the deposit, During the intervention of the ECOMOG soldiers to restore the presidency of Alhaji Tejan KABBAH from Johnny Koroma, my husband was among the 23 executed ministers. As our breadwinner is dead (my husband),and our stay in Sierra Leone is no more safe,
 
I and my Two children decided to move to BURKINA FASO  where the money was deposited to claim the money, currently we are living in Burkina faso as refugees and the condition of life in the camp is very deplorable. i have agreed to marry any one who can help me and my two children's out of refugees camp, please come to our rescue, all my late husband  invest and money will be your as long as we marry each other
 
Best Regards.
MRS PAULINE CONTEH

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