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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: =?UTF-8?B?Ik1pc3MgTWVkaWFsYSBSbWlvIg==?= <y.princess@terra.com.co>
Date:
Subject:

Hello Dearest,
 
I am writing this mail to you With due respect = trust and humanity, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read = through my letter i feel quite safe dealing with you on this important busi= ness having gone through your remarkable profile, honestly i am writing thi= s email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really li= ke to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i d= ecided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my si= tuation, My name is Miss Princess Mediala Romio yak, 25yrs old female from = Southern Sudan in Africa.
 
My father Dr.Romio Yak was the forme= r Minister of SPLA Affairs and Special Adviser to President Salva Kiir of S= outh Sudan for Decentralization. My father Dr.Romio Yak, my mother includin= g other top Military officers and top government officials  where on b= oard when their plane crashed on Friday May 02, 2008,about 400km near Juba = the regional capital when they were returning from a political conference h= eld in the town of Wau, South Sudan.
 
South Sudan.You can read = more from the site below:   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ africa/73= 80412.stm
 
Some months after the burial of my father, my uncle = conspired with my step mother and sold my father's properties to a Chinese = Expatriate. On a  faithful morning I opened my father's briefcase and = found out documents which my beloved late father used and deposit money at = a Bank in Burkina Faso,with my name as the next of kin. I travelled to Burk= ina Faso to withdraw the money so that I can start a better life and take c= are of myself. The Branch manager of the Bank whom I met in person told me = that my present status does not permit me by the local law to clear money o= r make a transfer of money into an account, he advice me to provide a forei= gn trustee who will help me and invest the money or I should wait till when= I will get married as it demand by their Authority.
 
I choose = to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my t= rust. But rather take me as your own blood sister. Though you may wonder wh= y I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well, I will sa= y that my mind convinced me that you are the true person to help me. More s= o, I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to yo= ur country because my uncle has threatened to assassinate me. The amount is= USD24.6 Million} and I have confirmed from the bank in Bu= rkina Faso . You will also help me to place the money in a more profitable = business venture in your Country.
 
However, you will help me by= recommending a nice University in your country so that I can complete my s= tudies. It is my intention to compensate you with 35% of t= he total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in you= r establishment. As soon as I receive your interest in helping me, I will p= ut things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appre= ciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle t= his transaction sincerely. Please do keep this only to your self. I beg you= not to disclose it till i come over to you because I am afraid of my wicke= d uncle who has threatened to kill me.My Dear Please contact me at (missmed= ialromio@yahoo.com) and I will tell you more about me
 
 Best regard,
Sincerely yours,
Princess Mediala Romio yak

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