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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: edwige brou <edwige_brou@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: edwige_brou@yahoo.cn
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:00:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Miss.Edwige Brou



Dear Respectful One,

I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet meet. The message could be strange but it's real and you will realised this if you pay some attention to it. I want to notify you about it at least for the sake of your integrity, due to the nature of my proposal, which requires a reputable and trustworthy person. Someone who will be kind and sincere to me.

l am Miss. Edwige Brou, the only daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Josephe Brou. whom was the executive accountant with the Ivory Coast ministry resources and energy. in Abidjan here, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, he was poisoned to death by his only brother ( My Uncle) and his business associates on one of their business meeting. My mother died on the 14Th October 2002 and my father took me so special because l am motherless.

Before the death of my father on 27Th April 2009 in a private hospital here in Abidjan, he called me on his bedside, when I sat down to listen that he has a sum of ( US$7,000,000 ) ( seven million united state dollars ) with one of the Bank here in Abidjan and that he used my name as his only daughter for next of kin, he started crying, why? (1) He complained that I am too young to be managing my life with no one to take care of me, (2)That I have not finished my university education as he planned for me,
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his only brother (My Uncle) and his business associates, that l should stay away from them as they are evil he warned me. seriously not associate with his brother that is my uncle, that I should seek for a God fearing foreign partner in a country of my choice where l will transfer this money and use it for proper investment purpose for the benefit of the both of us, that I must finish my university education by the help of a business partner abroad, that he or she should help me obtain a resident permit in his or her country.

He also gave a standing instruction to the Bank that the deposit must be transferred outside this country, to avoid attracting attention to the funds due to the on going political crisis here in my country.

I am now ready to do all these since my father my bread winner is no more. l am honourable seeking your assistance in the following ways. (1) To serve as my guardian in your country while I will depend on your expert advise since l am a girl of 22 years old. (2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country..

Moreover, l am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your assistance after the successfully transfer of the funds into your account, Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within some days, your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.

Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to the needy.
Thank you so much.
My Sincere regards,
Miss. Edwige Brou.

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