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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: Cynthia J <cynthiajones20100@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:24:05 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE PLEASE


 FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE PLEASE
Dearest One,
Besides being interested in living and investing in your country, I am CYNTHIA JONES, the daughter of MR. PAUL JONES of kenema district in sierra-Leone. My father was killed by his business partners on a business trip. Following the political crisis in my country, I was forced to leave my country to Abidjan Ivory Coast where my late father deposited the sum of $(3.700.000.00) (Three Million seven Hundred thousand united state dollars) in my name as his next of kin.

The money he made during his time as coco merchant in my country. To be honest with you, this is the only inheritance left for me by my late father which I am with the necessary documents concerning this deposit. Now I have succeeded in locating the Bank here in Abidjan Ivory Coast and I am soliciting for your assistance to help me to transfer this money into your country to further my education and for investments purposes so that we can invest it in any profitable investment of your choice in your country because this is my only hope of life. I have promise to gratify you with 20% of the total sum if you assist me.

Waiting anxiously to hear from you your positive response showing your interest, your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely so that we can discuss the modalities of this transaction. Please kindly contact me immediately for more information, bear in mind that any delay in your reply may give me room to further my search for another partner from your country for this same purpose.
Thanks for your kind attention.
Most emphatically,
Miss Cynthia Jones

Anti-fraud resources: