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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: Linda ben <lindaben1@live.com>
Reply-To: mslben@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:48:58 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Greetings From Linda BEN.

>From Linda Ben,
COTE D'IVOIRE WEST AFRICA


Greeting,
I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart, I know that this mail might come to you as a surprise because you don't know me and I don't know you too.


My name is Linda Ben Kuku I am 20 years old and am the only Daughter of late Mr Ben Kuku a cocoa farmer and later adviser to Alassane Ouattara winner of the last year presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire, who died on Tuesday, 23th Dec 2010, after a suspected assassination by on uniformed ministry man loyal and sent by Laurent Gbagbo. As a matter of fact, I am the only one in the family who knows about the money he deposited in bank here in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, He deposited the sum of ($5.5 Million United States dollars). My late father handed over the documents of this deposit to me before his untimely death,


Now as he is dead, I wish to seek for your partnership to assist me to move this money to your country for investment. This is 100% risk free and I will give you 20% of the total amount involve. If you are interested I will send you the full confidential details of the deposit as a good partner that I can trust to assist me. Can I trust you in this transaction? If you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication.


I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:

1) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 20years old


2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit for me in your country.


Moreover, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas and 5% for expense.


This business is risk free hence we can perfect it within few days upon your readiness.


You’re respectfully,
Linda Ben

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