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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: "Favour Mutah" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:46:22 -0000
Subject: Favour Mutah

Dear

Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you, please i need a trust-worthy person that will help me to transfer this money.I am very sorry. I hope that you will read through this email and understand how difficult things can be for someone in a particular period inlife, I introduce my self to you with all faith, trust and hope you will understand to assist me not to betray me at the end.

My Name is Mr Favour Mutah the only Son of Mr and Mrs Mutah Ubah, i am 20year old My father was a very wealthy Gold Merchant in Monrovia the Gold Capital of republic of Liberia all in west africa. Before the death of my father he told me that he deposited sum of (USD $15 MILLION FIFTEEN MILLIONU.S DOLLARS ) here in ABIDJAN and Deposit of Gold Dust which i am the next of kin.

My dad, has planed to purchase and import some Gold processing machines and the development of another factory, unfortunately he did not meet his targetbefore his untimely death.Right now, as a boy i really need your assistantto transfer this money to your country for investment purposes through your dire ctive. And also help me to retrive the Gold Dust from the Bank and finally search for a buyer.

Since security here cannot be guaranteed, besides i've lost my family and my father's company Please i am begging you to do me a favor by standing as my guardian and receiver of the money on my behalf.

I have suffered in so much pain since i lost my family my uncle has been after my life because of this money but he did not know exactly where the money was deposited so i have decided to travel out of this country and invest the money in your country if you will accept to be my guardian.

I am hiding in a local place here and I will compensate you with 20% of this money if you can help me to transfer the money to your account l hope you will not betray the trust i have on you because this money is my only hope in this life and you will also help me to come over to your country to continue my education while you will invest my own share of the money under your care.

I can assure you there is No Risk involve the money is an inheritance from my late father.I am waiting to hear from you.

Await to here from you.
Favour Mutah

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