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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: Richard Gama <richardgama704@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Richard Gama <richardgama_704@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 10:13:24 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: My Dearest,


My Dearest,   

Good day,may the blessings of God be upon you and grant you the wisdom and sympathy to understand my situation and how much I need your help. After going through your profile , i was convinced that you are reputable and a trust worthy person who can help me.

I am contacting you with the hope that you will be of great assistance to me.

Note I have sent you this e-mail for open discussions with you. i don't want you to misunderstand this offer in any aspect...if it is okay with you, i ask for your full cooperation. i have contacted you base on trust to handle an investment in your country/company on my behalf as a prospective partner.

My name is Richard Gama, I am 21 years old boy from Sierra Leone . My father and i escaped from our country at the heat of the civil war after loosing my mother and two of my senior brothers in the war. As a result of the political instability in my country even after the war, my father established his cocoa and coffee export business in my country Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire.

He was in Burke, A northern city to negotiate for the purchase of a cocoa plantation when he was shot by the rebel troupes fighting to take over the Government of the former President Laurent Gbagbo. The death of my father has now made me an orphan and thereby exposing me to danger.

Before his unfortunate death, my late father called me one day and told me as his only surviving Son, that he deposited the sum of $8.5 million US Dollars in a bank here in Cote D'Ivoire and my name was used as the next of kin to the deposit.

As a result of the present insecurity of lives and property in this country now, i wish to request that you assist me to transfer this fund in your destinated account for investment purposes. also to assist me with a letter of invitation that will make me get a visa to your country for residence in order for me to continue my education under your care and to invest the fund in a lucrative business venture.

Meanwhile, I am very honest in my dealings with people and i also demand the same from you as a Partner to be.

I want you to note that this is a mutual business venture as there is a reward for your assistance.

My reasons for contacting you are listed below :
1. I want you to assist me transfer and invest the sum of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($8,500,000.00)  which I inherited from my late father before he died.
2. I want you to assist me get university admission as soon as i arrive to your country after the transfer of the money.
3. I want you to be my guardian hence my father is dead.
4. I want you to assist me get good accommodation in your country.

I am willing to offer you 20% while 5% has been earmarked for expenses. If you find this letter offensive, please ignore it and accept my apologies. 

Regards.   
Richard Gama

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