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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: "Desmond Baribote" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desmondbaribote@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:09:48 -0500
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

 
My Dear Friend,
 
I hope all is well with you over there? I am not suppose to contact you in this manner, it is quite unfortunate that i am doing so, due to the unfortunate circumstances arising from my country.
 
 
 
My name is Desmond Baribote, I am 29 years old and a citizen of Nigeria also residing in Nigeria. My problem started January 2014, when my country legislative arm of Government enacted a law and passed a bill on anti-gay/same sex marriage, which is punishable when caught with a 14 years jail sentence with hard labor.
 
 
 
Due to this heartless and wicked law against gays, a lot of people in my country have taken the opportunity to victimize people like me who are gay. Some gay have been arrested, while some have been physically abused which ended in their death.
 
 
 
Recently there have not been freedom of expression and association within the gays community since the introduction of this law, which has made the unfortunate ones like me who do not have the resources or connection to run away from Nigeria to other gay friendly countries to be stuck here to suffer this horrible humiliations. Those who have such resources or connection have been able to disengage themselves from my society.
 
 
 
Right now as i am writing to you, i am hiding away from people who have knowledge of my sexual preference, from law enforcement agencies and sadist who wants to take my situation as a means to see my downfall or send me to jail and even witness my death. This unfortunate events has crippled me mentally, psychologically, socially and financially since i can't move about freely.
 
 
 
My dear friend, i write to solicit for your charitable assistance in any ramification that you can be of help to me.
 
 
 
May God almighty bless you and your family abundantly as you render me this help Amen. Hope to hear from you soonest.
 
 
Yours Sincerely
 
Desmond Baribote
 
desmondbaribote@gmail.com
+23481799991973

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