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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: Koudou Michel Gbagbo <orskeen_devouz@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: gbagbokoudoumichel@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:23:16 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED







Dear Friend

 

I need your services in a confidential matter
regarding a family fund deposited in a finance company in Ghana by my Mother, a
wife of the formal Ivorian President Mr. Laurent Gbagbo. This requires a
private arrangement for you to receive this fund under legal claims as my
foreign beneficiary; all legal documents will be carefully worked out to ensure
a risky free transfer. I am willing to pay a generous management fee as well as
appreciation as soon as this transaction is completed.

 

I have all the details; the fund in question is
($20,500,000.00) twenty million five hundred
dollars. I will expect a straight answer from you. Yes or no. If yes, kindly
furnish me with your personal information, which must include your direct cell
phone/fax numbers, address and company name, then we’ll work out the
modalities.

 

E-mail me as soon as you receive this proposal
to enable me acknowledge the receipt of my email and I will inform you what you
need to do.

 

Regards,

Koudou
Michel Gbagbo


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