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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: "miriam robert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <miriam_robert@ozu.es>
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:54:29 +0200
Subject: message

Dearest One

I feel quite safe dealing with you through this medium (Internet) has been
greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the
fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication.I know that this mail
will come to you as a surprise as we have never met before, but still i will
want you to take me like a friend and glance through my short letter. I am
Miriam, 18yrs from Senegal,the only Survived child of Late Mr Robert Guei
the former president of Ivory Coast who was murdered alongside my mother and
only brother last year by rebels.
I am Presently in an orphanage because of wickedness of my uncle's and relatives.
Before his death he had a domiciliary account here, up to the tune of (Five
Million Five Hundred Thousand US dollars) . Please I need your assistance to
get this money transferred to you for my education, investment and to be my
guardian. I shall forward to you with the necessary documents on confirmation
of assisting me.I shall be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you,
if you so desire, but i do urge you to give the matter your immediate attention
it deserves.Please do not make undue advantage of the trust i bestow on you.I
am willing to offer you a reasonable percentage from the total money as for
your effort. May God touch your heart and use you to bring back happiness and
joy in my life.

Your Sincerely
Miriam Robert
Email address-miriam_robert@ozu.es




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