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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: Mamba Mawa <mawamamba010@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: mawamamba77@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:31:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE PLEASE:


AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE PLEASE:
FROM MAWA MAMBA
Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE:
                                              
This
letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have never
met or had a discussion before, basically this message might sound
strange but it is factual in reality if only you care to know, The truth
is that I should have notified you through a more confidential means,
(even in the least to respect your integrity) please accept my humble
apologies if I have caught you unaware, I frankly do not mean any harm
in passing my message.

My name is Mawa Mamba, 20 years old; I am
the only child of late Chief and Mrs. Richard. Mamba. My father is a
well known business man who deals on gold and diamond in our country
Ivory Coast before his death.  I prayed before contacting you and I
believed that you are the rightful person to help me out.

I need
your assistance in the transfer of my inherited money for investment
ventures under your care and directive, while I continue my education in
your country after the transfer.

I inherited Six Million, Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars (US$6,500,000.00) deposited with my name in one
of the prime bank in my country as his next of kin and I will require
your assistance in receiving the transfer of the money in your local
account for investment purposes.

It is my desire to come over to
your country to further my education while you take care of the
investment of the money. Please I am an orphan and I need your
assistance to transfer my inherited money to your country and also your
assistance to secure a nice school for me in your country, where I will
continue my education.

I am willing to compensate you with 15% of
the total amount upon a successful conclusion to this transaction.  I
shall be pleased to have your personal phone number where I can
personally contact you.

Please I am waiting for your immediate response at mawamamba77@yahoo.com

Thanks and may God bless you.

Yours  sincerely,
Mawa Mamba


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