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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: "Abdullah al Senussi" <eddy.hoste@enetricity.com>
Reply-To: <abdul_senussi@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:49:41 -1200
Subject: Project Assistant Needed



Greetings,

I know you will be surprise to read my email I got your contact from the institute of commerce, apart from being surprise you may be skeptical to reply back to me because based on what is going on in the internet world, one has to be very careful  because a lot of scammer are out there to scam innocent citizen and this has made it very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through the internet but this is a different case. lf you willing to show me your honest and trust i think i will be able to work with you. Am a Libyan citizen  and you should be rest  assured that i cannot be involved in scam.
 
My name is Abdullah al Senussi, a member of the inner caucus of the last regime in Libya.
 
I would like to share some highly personal classified information about my personal experience. In the hay days of this government, we were like gods but today all our friends have rejected us that we are hiding in countries where we have ran to for survival. It is good to know when to quit.
 
Though, I would like to hold back certain information for security reasons for now. Because we don't know whether we will live or die, I want you to help us manage inheritance we wish to leave for our children.
 
Also, could you get back to me to enable us discuss in a more clarifying manner to the best of your understanding. I must say that I'm very uncomfortable sending this message to you without knowing truly if you would misconstrue the importance and decides to go public. In this regards, I will not hold back to say that the essence of this message is strictly for mutual benefit between you and I and nothing more.
 
I will be vivid and coherent in my next message in this regards. I will like you to get back to me to enable me give you details on this issue.
 
I will await your thoughts via my email; abdul_senussi@yahoo.com
 
Thanks,
 
Best Regards
Abdullah



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