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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: "JOHN" <john5cassidy@hotmail.fr> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:08:55 -0000
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME




DEAR RESPECTFUL,

Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship
with you. I got your name and contact from the CLASSIFIED I prayed over it
and selected your contact among other contacts I got from there. I am
JOHN CASSIDY (JR) the only son of late DR. JOHN CASSIDY. My father was a
very wealthy Cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory
coast but was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their
outings on a business trip.

My Mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so
special. Before the death of my father on JULY 2010 in a private hospital
here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he
has the sum of TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS USD. ($2,000 000) left in
fixed / suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan, that he
used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in depositing of the
money. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he
was poisoned by his business associates. He then advice me to seek for a
Foreign Partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money
and use it for investment purpose, I am therefore honorably seeking your
assistance in the following ways:

(1) To provide a bank account for the transfer of this money. (2) To serve
as a guardian to me and the investment of this money since I am only
19years. I am willing to offer you a good percentage from the total sum as
compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this
money into your nominated account overseas. Furthermore, you will indicate
your option towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would
be concluded within fourteen 14 days you signify interest to assist me.

Anticipating to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

John .

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