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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: "Nadia Zaid" <nadia_zaid@ymail.com>
Reply-To: nadiazaid2012@ymail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 09:26:05 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Beloved God Bless You




Beloved God Bless You,
>From : Miss Nadia Zaid

My dearest, I greet you and your family in the name of God, I am aware
that this is not a formal approach to begin a relationship with you or
even to explain why I contacted you, but as time passes, you will realize
the need of my approach, I hope you will read this message and understand
how things can be difficult for[me] in this period in life because of
tragedy that befalls me in the lost of my entire family as a result of war
in my country. I present my self to you with all faith, trust and hope
that you will understand in the end.

My name is Nadia Zaid, 21 years old, the only surviving child of late Mr.
Ben. Amah Zaid from Douke region, in the Republic of Ivory Coast. My
father, before he died, was the President of Cocoa Producers and
Exporters Union in my country Ivory Coast.He was killed along with my
mother and family members when the rebels attacked my village in the city
of Douke during the political war in my country. During the attacked,more
than hundreds of people were killed by the rebels included my parents, but
my father died after seven days in the hospital because he was seriously
wounded. Before his death, my father had planned to purchase and import
some cocoa processing machines to open another factory but unfortunately,
he failed in his plan due to the war that broke out in my country which
leads to his untimely death, but my late father before he died told me in
the hospital that he saved the funds in a trunk box which he deposited for
safety keeping in a security company. The total amount is(Five million two
hundred thousand US dollars).

At this time, as an orphan girl and the only survival of my parent, I
really need your help to bring this money to your country for investment
purposes such as manufacturing and real estate management or other good
business investment that we can invest the money, this is the most
important reason that I contacted you for help since security here can not
be guaranteed, and I've lost my family and my father's business was burned
down during the rebel attack. Right now I'm in great confusion because the
security company relocated the property to their overseas branch office,
so please I am asking you to do me a favour by standing as my guardian to
claim this property also transfer the money on my behalf to your country
after which I will come and live with your family. I don’t want to return
the box in my country here because I have suffered so much pain since I
lost my family, I have made up my mind to come and invest in your country
if you will accept me. Please I will want you to take me as your own
relation and help me and I promise to reward you kindly.

Please I am expecting your call or reply soonest.
Thank you and God Almighty bless you,
Yours faithfully,
Nadia Zaid

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