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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: "MARIA KOUANAH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mkouanah@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 16:40:14 -1200
Subject: Respectfully Yours !

Hi
I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart. With due respect , trust and humanity, honestly, I will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, is due to the urgency of my situation, My name is Miss MARIA KOUANAH, I was born in 1992, single female and I held from Mali in West Africa.
 
 
After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my father's property to an Italian Expert-rate which the shared the money among themselves and live nothing for me. One faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he have deposited huge amount of money in one Security company in Ivory Coast with my name as the next of kin. The amount is( $7.3 USD )Million United State Dollars, and I have confirmed from the Security company in IVORY COAST on my arrival, It is my intention to compensate you with 30% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my stepmother has threatened to assassinate me.
 
 
I will appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Please do keep this only to your self for now until the money release to your country. I have the documents for the claims.Alternatively you can mail me direct :  (  mkouanah@yahoo.co.jp )
 
Yours Sincerely
Maria
 

Anti-fraud resources: