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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Sinnott Mary <sinnott121mary@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Sinnott Mary <sinnott_mary@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:47:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear one,


Dear one,
 
I humbly write to solicit for your partnership and assistance in the transfer and investment of my inheritance fund USD $ 4.5M from my late father who died mysteriously last December .
 
In my culture, when a man dies , if he does not have a male child , the brothers shares his property leaving both the wife and the daughters empty handed including the house they live this is the exact case with me as I am the only daughter / son of my parents .
 
That is why I have contacted you to serve as a guardian to me and as my foreign partner for the transfer and investment of the fund overseas My uncles does not know about the funds because they had already taken my father's houses and other properties , because I 'm a girl and they said I do not have rights for any property . They have asked for papers from the bank my father, but I just told them I do not know where he kept . The younger brother took the house in the village while the houses in the town were sold out they shared the proceed they got from the sale . Now I 'm at the hotel and who sincerely want to travel out of my country due to insecurity and treat my life. This can only happen when I have secured the release and transfer of funds in bank.This why it is important to have a plan of the type of lucrative business that we can invest the funds .
 
I had several times had discussions with the director of international remittance unit of the bank where my father deposited the funds and I was assured that once, I have someone who would be willing to receive the funds on my behalf , which will start all processes to effect the release and transfer of funds to the person designated account.If you meant your interest to partner with me , it would only be very necessary if you contact the bank and request for the release and transfer of my fund inheritance into your nominated account , for investment purposes and have me come over to your country to continue with my studies.I will be giving you the bank contact details so I hear back from you so you go ahead and contact with the bank ,
 
Your urgent response will be appreciated. Talk to you more .
Regards
 
Miss Mary

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