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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: Chantal Akissi <chantal_akissi20@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:05:37 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From Miss Chantal Akissi


From Miss Chantal AkissiAbidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
 I am Miss Chantal Akissi, the only daughter and child of late Mr. Koffi Akissi. Please  permit me to inform you of my desire to invest an amount of US$16,500,000.00 in your  country. I inherited this money from my late father who was poisoned to death by my uncle  on their business trip to France where he supplies cocoa and coffee. 
After the death of my  father, his lawyer called my attention in his office to inform me that my late father left  this amount on my name as the nexk of kin with a bank here in my country. I have visited the bank and found out that the money is really existing and i can send you some documents  as proof. This documents proved me as the next of kin to the deposit. 
 To explain more to you, my uncle has claimed all my late father's housing properties and  other assets. Fortunately for me, he does not know about this money at the bank. Due to  African tradition and custom, my uncle has the traditional right to claim whatever my late  father left. This is because when a man dies without having any male issue, his properties  and assets will be shared by the male relations and nothing will be given to me as a female child.
 My good intension is for you to assist me in investing this money into a good business of  your choice, while I continue my education in your country. The lawyer has told me to leave  the country to another country where i can spend the rest of my life so that my wicked  uncle will not find a means to kill me too. The lawyer said that it will be very dangerous  for me to invest this money in the country due to the presence of my uncle.
 Before we start, I need to trust you more. Right now, i am seeking for your assistance to  provide a good account where the bank can transfer the money. secondly, i want you to  provide to me a copy of your ID card and telephone number where i can easily reach you. I will give you other details as soon as you reply me back. Waiting to hear from you.
Regards,Chantal Akissi

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