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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: stella Filidori <stellafilidori@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stellafillidori@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 21:25:04 +0100
Subject: My name is Miss.Stella Filidori.

Good day sir

My name is Miss.Stella Filidori. I am writing this email to you with
tears and sorrow from my heart. With due respect, trust and humanity,
I appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read this email.

I got your contact/profile through an international directory and I
become interested in disclosing everything about myself to you. It is
true that we have not seen or known each other before. I am the only
product of late Mr. and Mrs. Joshua K. Filidori from Ivory Coast.
Please my lord, let us reason together and have trust in God our
creator. I am seeking your assistance to help me transfer my
inheritance money, the sum of (US$3,650,000.00) Three Million, Six
Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States of American Dollars into your
bank account. My late father willed this money to me, though my
mother has died when he wrote the will in my name.

Please it is more than urgent because my life is in danger as my
father's brothers and family members are after my life because of this
huge amount of money willed to me. I have now run out of my country
to Togo Republic for my life's security. My late father was a
Politician and also Gold and Cocoa merchant in Ivory Coast before his
business colleagues poisoned him and he died. My Lord, I am willing
to give you 25% of this inheritance money for your efforts and
assistance after the successful transfer of the money into your bank
account overseas because I would like to invest in your country. I
will give you more details when I receive your reply. Anticipating
hearing from you urgently and please reply to my private Email:
stella.Filidori@yahoo.com

Thanks and God bless. Yours sincerely,

Miss Stella Filidori

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