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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: Pius Saidu Momoh <harris01kp@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Pius Saidu Momoh <piusmomoh12@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 07:33:08 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GREETINGS FROM PIUS SAIDU MOMOH

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Pius Saidu Momoh and my Sister's name
Grace, We are the children of Late Saidu Momoh the former Director of
military intelligence and special acting General Manager of Sierra Leone
Diamond mining cooperation (SLDMC). I am contacting you to seek your
good assistance to transfer and invest fourteen million united state
dollars ($14 Million) belonging to my late father which he deposited in a
bank here in Abidjan. This money is revenues from solid minerals and
diamonds sale which were under my father’s possession before the civil
war broke out. Following the break out of the war, almost all government
offices, operations and prostates were attacked and vandalized.

The
SLDMC was loathed and burnt down to ashes, and diamonds worth millions
of dollars was stolen by the rebel military forces that attacked my
father’s office. Many top government officials and senior army officers
were assassinated and my father was a key target because of his very
sensitive military position and appointment in the SLDMC. Regrettably,
my father was captured and murdered along with half brother in cool
blood during a mid-night rebel shoot-out when our official residence in
Freetown was arm bushed by Fordey Sanko the notorious rebel leader. My
mother sustainded very sever bullet injuries which resulted to her
untimely and painful death in a private hospital here in Ivory Coast.

Now
we are alone in a totally strange country without parents, relatives or
any body to care for us at our tender ages. Before our mother died, she
told us that our father deposited some money which he made from diamond
sales and deposited it in a bank here in Ivory Coast and that we should
pray and find a trust worthy foreign business partner who will help us
to transfer and invest this money in profitable business venture
overseas.

She told us to do this
quickly so that we can leave Ivory Coast and, then settle down abroad.
She gave us the bank document to prove the deposit and then told us that
my father used my name as the only son to deposit the money in the
bank. She told us that this is the reason why we came to Ivory Coast. My
mother died after wards, may her spirit rest in perfect peace.

I
have gone to the bank to make inquires about this money and I spoke
with the Manager of International remittance who assured me that
everything is intact and promised to help me transfer this money to my
foreign partners bank account as soon as I provide my partners foreign
bank account for them. However, the manager is very concerned because of
my age. I am 20 years old and as such advised that I should look for a
matured person that will represent me at the bank.

If you are
willing to assist us, please let us know immediately so that you will
arrange the transfer of the money to your account
with the bank. Please note that we will offer you 20% of the total
money as compensation for your noble assistance in accordance with my
mother’s advice. We are interested in any profitable commercial venture
which you consider very well in your country and you would also get a
school for me and my little sister so that we can finish our college
education in your country.

Please there is urgent need for the
money to be transferred to your account and I am hoping to hear your
urgent response so that I can not look for another foreign partner.

Thank you and May God bless you and your dear family.

Yours sincerely
Pius Saidu Momoh

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