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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: "Sharon Lee" <sharon@aol.com>
Reply-To: sharno_lee@yahoo.pl
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:08:15 -0500
Subject: help. Will you be of help?


Dear Friend, I am lady of 29years old, I was given birth in Tottenham Londo=
n. Am mixed race, my dad is a British while my mom a native of America and =
I'm the only kid of my folks. My parents died 3years ago in a fire outbreak=
in my dad's factory in Enfield road in London. I am not married but I=92ve=
been into so many relationships, which seems hurt to me and in which I was=
cheated. The problem I am into now was caused by my last EX-date. I am out=
of the States now and I will like to discuss what brought me here from the=
United States or your country. Before coming here, I registered to search =
a date on a dating site www.match.com where I meet an African guy who prove=
d that he loves and wants me. We talked for 1 month and some weeks. The Afr=
ican guy convinced me to come down and live with him pretending to Love me.=
Then I traveled down to Africa and while I was coming, the African guy tol=
d me to come with enough money for investment and I even went to the extent=
of selling my inherited house just because I want to leave the States. I c=
ame in here with a total sum of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars =
with all the money I've gotten from my Dad's business and sales of some pro=
perties. Because the African guy told me of an idea to invest in oil firms =
here. When I got here, he made all possible efforts to get the money from m=
e and get away with it. Then when I noticed this, I took the money and my t=
raveling boxes and deposited it with a Security/Insurance Company here in A=
frica in order to save my life and my assets. I told them that the two boxe=
s are my traveling luggages, which I want to send forth to U.S.A or your co=
untry because I=92m returning home, then I paid them up their custody and s=
ecurity fee, but I did not tell them that the boxes contain money in order =
to make everything secure and safe. Thereafter I left the guy's apartment t=
o a hotel where I am right now and from which I am communicating with you. =
Now, I'm in need of your help, have gotten enough money to take care of mys=
elf when I get to the States or your country, I want to come over to your e=
nd and we can start a new life together with all the money, I don't want to=
live here anymore, you know I'm a foreigner here and it is absolutely dang=
erous for me here, so that is why I needed your assistance. Now,I want the =
boxes sent to you while I catch up with you as soon as they are delivered t=
o you while I come over to meet you and we can start a business with the mo=
ney or if you need me to offer you percentage, then tell me. Every arrangem=
ent for the delivery is kind and perfect, I have obtained customs papers fo=
r private freight and there are seals on the boxes showing that it is a pri=
vate delivery and check performed, it is free from customs checks, it will =
be delivered at your door step by the diplomats of the security company, yo=
u do not need to burn out to receive it. And the boxes have security codes =
lock known to me only, only me can open the boxes, except if I tell anyone =
the Code, so the Boxes cannot be opened on the Way of delivery to you. I am=
counting on you with trust and I will appreciate your trust towards this a=
nd hoping to hear from you and to meet you in person. Let me hear you as so=
on as possible, so that I can give you the deposit details and the contact =
of the security company to arrange the shipment ASAP. And when the boxes ge=
t to you, you will send me some money for my flight and hotel bills so that=
I can meet you over there for sharing or to start a business with the mone=
y. I will wait for your response if you would be of help. Will you be of he=
lp? Sincerely yours, Sharon Lee.

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