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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: Mary Martins <martinsmary2@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2011 11:13:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: hello


Dearest

 I am the only Daughter of Mr.and Mrs.George D, Martins.
My father was a highly reputable business magnet who operated in the
capital of Ivory coast during his days.
It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad on the 12th September 2008.
 
Though
his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been master
minded by an uncle of him who traveled with him at that time. But God
knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 6yrs old, and since then
my father took me so special.
 
Before my father,s death on
September 2008, he called me and informed me that he deposited a sum of
Three  Million ,three hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$
3.300.000 m) left in  foreign name in one of the leading security
company in Lome  Accra Ghana.
 
He
further told me that he deposited the money unknown to the security
company the content of the consignment, and also gave me all the
necessary documents to this fund with the security company contact.
 
 I
am just 25 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't
know what to do. Now I want you to stand as my father,s foreign partner
because I have go to the security company in  Ghana  to claim the money
but they told me that I can't do that unless I provide my father,s
foreign partner .
 
 Now you are chooses by God , I will like to
come and reside permanently in your country after the transaction.This
is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant
political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually
brought sorrow to my life.
I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of business world. I am in a sincere
desire of your humble assistance in this regards.
Your suggestions
and ideas will be highly regarded. Please, consider this and get back to
me as soon as possible. I confirm your willingness, I will send to you
my Picture and also inform  you more details involved in this matter.
Kind Regards,
 Miss Mary  Martins

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