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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 mahmeld <mariamahmeldxx@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maria mahmeld <ahmed.mariam18@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 04:42:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From miss Mariam Ahmed


>From miss Mariam Ahmed
Avenue 9 Marcory ramblaise
33 Bp 101 Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire
West Africa .
Dearest,
I know it might be a surprise to receive a letter like this from an unknown person, I contacted you after going through your profile and my prayers over it.
My name is Miss Mariam Ahmed the only daughter of late Mr.and Mrs. Ahmed Ibrahim, my father was a business man he ideals cocoa and timber based in Abidjan the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire he was very successful and wealthy. My mother died when I was a baby and after the death of my mother, my dad remarried to another woman but after 5 years of their marriage they were officially divorced since then my father decided not to marry again and he treated me so special as I am his only child.
My predicaments started after the death of my father, he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip. Before the death of my father in a privat e hospital here in Abidjan he told me that he has the sum ($15.10m) left in fixed / suspense account in a bank here in Abidjan economical city of Cote d'Ivoire, that he used my name as his only child for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of his wealth that he was poisoned and he told me that his brother/my uncle knows the source of his illness that I should seek for someone overseas country where I will transfer this money.
Dear, I am honourably seeking for your assistance in the following ways: (1) to open a new bank account into which this money will be transferred to. (2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 17 years. (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country. Furtherance, input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas. Please, kindly indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within one week.
I am waiting to hear from you soon.
Thanks and rmain bless,
Miss Mariam Ahmed

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