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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: "Miss.Mary Coulibal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marycoulibal@barid.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 12:14:08 -0700
Subject: HELLO!!!

My Dear,
 
It's another new day, how was your night, hope my mail finds you in good health.
I am writing this mail 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 through my letter. I am Miss. Mary A. Coulibal 24 years old female from the Republic
of Ivory Coast, West Africa, am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt. Warlord Ibrahim Coulibal (a.k.a General IB ). My late father
was a well known Ivory Coast militia leader. He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with the Republican
Forces of Ivory Coast (FRCI). You can read more about my father in the link below.
 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/28/ivory-coast-renegade-warlord-ibrahim-coulibaly
 
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother. She planned to
take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father.
 
Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hideaway my international passport and other valuable documents.
Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents. Now I am presently
staying in the Mission in Ghana while I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance. My father of
blessed memory deposited the sum of 19.5 Million EUROS in one of the Leading bank in Europe with my name as the next
of kin. I had contacted the Bank to claim the deposit but the bank Manager told me that being a refugee, my status
according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide a trustee
who will stand on my behalf. I had wanted to inform my step mother about this deposit but I am
 
As you indicate your interest to help me I will give you the contact information of the bank where my late beloved father
deposited the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate you with 35% of the total money for
your assistance, and 10% for all the expenses that may be needed for transfer cost, please you will help me to invest the
remaining 55% in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as i have no any idea about foreign investment.
If you are interested to help me please send me your contact information such as;
 
1. YOUR FULL NAMES
 
2. HOUSE ADDRESS.
 
3. AGE, SEX AND MARITAL STATUS.
 
4. OCCUPATION.
 
5. NATIONALITY.
 
6. CELLPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATIONS.
 
So that I will forward them to the bank where the money is
deposited as the bank manager advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf to receive the money for me
to help me invest it.
 
Anticipating to hear from you soon.
Thank you and God bless you!
 
Miss. Mary A. Coulibal
Regards.

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