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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: austin destiny <austindes001@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:27:13 +0200
Subject:

SIR,

THIS IS AUSTIN D. A. DODONOUVI, THE SECOND SON TO MR DESTINY ALFRED
GODONOUVI, AN EX-CUSTOM OFFICER OF HIGH PROFILE. I WAS INVOLVED IN A
MOTOCYCLE MISHARP THAT CRIPPLED ME FROM MY CHILDHOOD. ON 21 MARCH, 2010 MY
FATHER DIED WITH HIS SECOND WIFE, THOUGH I LOST MY MOTHER 4 YEARS EARLIER,
BUT MY STEP MOTHER WAS LIKE A MOTHER TO ME.

NOW THAT MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER HAVE DIED, I HAVE NONE TO LOOK AFTER ME. I
JUST MANAGED TO GOT THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF MY FATHER'S LAWYER FROM WHOM
I UNDERSTOOD THAT MY FATHER LEFT A HERITAGE FOR ME IN HIS WILL. THE LAWYER
CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO COME OVER TO PICK UP MY HERITAGE WHICH IS US$ 1.8
MILLION (ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) BECAUSE HE HIMSELF
IS OF AGE, AND IS SICK AT THIS MOMENT.

SINCE THE DAY MY FATHER'S RELATIONS GOT THE WIND OF THAT, THEY HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO ELIMINATE ME. THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE IS MY FATHER'S LAWYER. THE
ONLY ADVICE HE GAME ME WAS TO LOG ON TO INTERNET AND FIND ANY FOREIGN
PARTNER THAT CAN HELP ME INVEST MY HERITAGE, NO MATTER HOW LITTLE IT IS. I
THEREFORE DECIDED TO MAKE A SEARCH ON THE NET TO SEE I IF COULD FIND ANY
RELIABLE PERSON FROM EITHER AMERICA; NORTH OR SOUTH, ALL ASIA, EUROPE, ETC
TO ENTRUST THE MONEY TO AND THEN MAKE PLANS TO COME OVER TO THE PLACE. I
CANT TRUST ANY ONE FROM MY COUNTRY HERE IN BENIN OR IN AFRICA. FORTUNATELY
FOR ME, I FOUND YOUR EMAIL CONTACT.

I AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY SO THAT I WILL DIRECT YOU TO MY FATHER'S LAWYER
IN ORDER FOR HIM TO PROCESS THE INVESMENT TO YOUR COUNTRY.

SINCERELY YOURS,

AUSTIN D. A. DODONOUVI

YOU CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY

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