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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: Sylvia Jimmy <sylvia009911@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <sylvia19911@voila.fr>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 03:42:48 -0400
Subject: please help me




Dearest I am writing this mail to you
with heart full of tears and sorrow, I know that this mail might come to
you as a surprise because you don't know me and I also do not know you
but I believe in God that you will not fail me because I did not contact
you by my power as I prayed that God will touch your heart and give you
the grace to help me.
My name is Miss. Sylvia
Jimmy, I am 22 years old Medical student in University of Sudan , I am
the only child of my father of a blessed memory by name Late Mr. Jimmy
Lemi Milla was the rural development minister in Sudan . You can read
more about my father death in the BBC news below website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12403620
My
late father was killed by his driver whom was paid by unknown people to
assailant my family but he succeeded in killing my father and the
shocked death of my father leads to my mother death after 3 days of
father's death. May they soul rest in perfect peace, AMEN.
I
am actually in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me
relocate to his country for a better life as I was advised by my late
mother, I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe you
will not betray me now that you have known my life story. Meanwhile, 2
days later after my father's death my mother gave me the information for
the secret deposit them made with a bank in Burkina-Faso. The deposit
value is US$4.5 Million US Dollars only and I am presently in
Burkina-Faso where my late parent's made the deposit and I have gone to
the bank to confirm the deposit and establish ownership, please I need
your assistance urgently in moving this fund to your country for
investment and also help me relocate to your country, when my
inheritance is properly secured you will have 20% of the value for your
assistance.
I shall appreciate an urgent
message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this
transaction sincerely. I am waiting your urgent and positive response.Please
do keep this only to yourself please i beg you not to disclose it to
anybody because I do not want to be noticed for security reasons. With
due respect, I am pleading that you help me, i am giving all this detail
information with every transparency believing that you will have a
clear picture of the base of help i need from you and I hope you will
not refuse to help me. I hope to hear from you immediately because I am
suffering so much here and wish to leave as soon as possible. May truth
and love be the guiding word in my refuge in you dear helper.Ms. Sylvia Jimmy

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