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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: Solomon Richmond <solomon.richmond@att.net>
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 06:57:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM: SOLOMON AND SISTER


FROM: SOLOMON AND SISTER
Attn: CEO
                     CONFIDENTIAL
 
I am Solomon Richmond the only son of late former Director of finance, Chief David Richmond Sierra-Leone diamond and mining corporation. I must confess my agitation is real, and my words is my bond, in this proposal. My late father diverted this money meant for purchase of ammunition, for my country, during the peak of disastrous civil war in my country, now he has deposited the money with BANK here in Abidjan,where I am residing under political Assylum with my younger sister.
Now the war in my country is over with the help of ECOMOG soldiers, the present government of Sierra Leone has revoked the passport of all officers who served under the former regime and now ask countries to expel such person at the same time freeze their account and confiscate their asset, it is on this note that I am contacting you, all I needed from you is to furnish me with your bank particulars:
1) Account name
2) Account number
3) Bank address, telephone and fax numbers
4) your private telephone /fax numbers
For you to assist me transfer this money in your private bank account, the said amount is (US$10.000.000 00 Million). I am compensating you with 15% of the total money amount, now all my hope is banked on you and I really wants to invest this money in your country, were their is stability of Government, political and economic welfare.
 
Honestly I want you to believe that this transaction is real and never a joke. My late father Chief David Richmond gave me the deposit slip issued to him by the Bank on the date of deposit, for you to be clarify because, I do not expose my self to anybody I see, I believe that you are able to keep this transaction secret for me because this money is the hope of my life, it is important.
Please write me immediately after you must have gone through my message fill free and make it urgent. That is the reason why I offered you 15% of the total money amount, and in case of any other necessary expenses you might incure, I am resolving to give you an addition of 5% during this transaction.
 
N.B Try and negotiate for me some profitable blue chip investment opportunities which is risk free which I can invest with this money when it is transferred to your account, personally I am interested in estate management and hotel business, please advise me. And promise me and my younger sister to be our guardian considering our situation and not to betray us.
And my late father used me the only son as the beneficiary / next of kin on the day of deposit and also told me I need an assistance of a foreigner with a legitimate bank Account abroad who will stand as co-beneficiary and partner abroad to ensure a successful hitch free transfer of the fund abroad.
Thanks and God bless
Yours Faithfully

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