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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: "Barnabas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nicholasbarnabas_tip@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 02:27:38 -0000
Subject: Nicholas Barnabas

Nicholas Barnabas,
With all due respect, I want you to read my letter with one mind and help me. I am Nicholas Barnabas, The only Son of late Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas, My Late father was a very wealthy cocoa dealer in in Lome Togo before he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outing to discuss on a business deal.
When my mother died when she was given birth to me, my father took me so special because I am motherless. Before the death of my father on 22nd September, 2010 in a private hospital here in Lome Togo. He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of USD9, 000,000.00 Nine million United States dollars left in a suspense account in a local bank here in Lome Togo , that he used my name as his only Son for the next of kin in deposit of the fund.
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose, such real estate agent,
I am 18year old. Dear I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways.
1) To provide any bank account where this money would be transferred into.
2) To serve as the guardian of this fund.
3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover, I am willing to offer you 25 percent of the total sum as compensation for your effort input after the successful transfer of this fund to your nominated account overseas.
I want you to help me not because of the 25 percent I want to offer you but to take me as your adoptive child and take good care of my life. Please save my life.
Hope to hear from you soonest. Please,
Thanks and God Bless.
Best regards,
Nicholas Barnabas,

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