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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: Ana Sarah <damsel3009482@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:42:40 +0100
Subject: Top secret!

Hello,

Good day and how are you today? I found it very difficult to contact you
with this mail but I have that strong believe that you might be able to help
me out of my predicament and more so, you will be part of the benefit as I
believe you might be that God-sent person.

What really happened is that I was at a dating site 9 months ago searching
for a true love when I met a guy from UK base in Nigeria but he's a black
man and after several mails we agreed we meet and plan for our life...So, I
sent him money to buy a house myself and him are going stay when I get over
there....On getting there, he didn't buy the house and I decided we stay in
a hotel for some days while we sort for a good house to buy and live
together as family....Meanwhile, I have closed all my accounts and took all
the money I inherited from my parents to where he stays which is ( $8.1m.usd
) cos my dad was an oil dealer, art and gold merchant while mum was into gem
stone ..they were rich and I was willed the whole money. In a nutshell the
African man wanted to get me killed and made away with the money. I would
never have known his plan if not that I eavesdropped it on phone
conversation with some hired killers on the cordless phone...So I had to
find a way and ran out of the hotel and I kept the whole money in a box at a
Security Company in West Africa. So the money is still with the Security
Company right now.... so I have to get it shipped out from the Security
Company before I can get outta here... so while trying to get another true
love to get married to but a friend at the new hotel where I am right now
told me I should register with a dating site that I will get someone loving,
trustworthy and reliable I can get married to and start my life... So I have
made up my mind already that until I find this person who I can give my life
to, trust and love ... then I will share it with him if God will use him to
turn my whole life for good... right now I don't have money to spend cos I
have used the last money on me to pay for the hotel and some other bills and
I don't have a dime. Please keep this as a secret as I don't want anyone to
know about it. More so, I won't be communicating to anyone on any dating
site again. Again, for you to help me receive the two boxes while you act on
behalf as the receiver of the boxes to the security company, I will pay you
10% of the whole money which is ( $810,000.usd ). If you are ready to assist
me, I will give you a letter you will send to the security company
containing my deposit details and all information I used when depositing the
boxes but note that you don't have to let the security company know that the
boxes contain money cos I told them its my documents, cloths and shoes. But
being away, you will have to pay some money for shipment and clearance fee
before the boxes can be shipped to you. I need to be happy again .... I want
you to read this very well and tell me how you would feel if you were in my
shoes and tell me your mind about what I told you. I will be expecting your
mail as soon as you can get back to me. Hope to read from you soon.

Anna.

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