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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: Mariam Banga <mariambanga1992@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 08:55:00 +0000
Subject: Urgent Please

>From Miss. Mariam Banga,
Abidjan,Ivory Coast,
08/04/2014



Good day my dear,
In confidence, I have to introduce myself, I am Miss. Mariam Banga, 21
years old, I am the only child of late Mr & Mrs. Jimah Banga. I prayed
before contacting you, please for God sake do not see my mail as
embarrassment as we do not know each other.

I wish to request for your assistance in my efforts to procure the transfer
of my inherited money for investment ventures under your care and
directive,while I continue my education of there in your country. I
inherited Six Million,Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,400,000.00) here in
my name with one of the prime bank in my country and I will require your
assistance in receiving the transfer of my inherited money in your local
account for investment purposes,as it is my wish 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. Every thing must be
done legally.

Please I am waiting to hear from you soonest
Yours sincerely,
Mariam Banga

Anti-fraud resources: