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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: sarah ab <sarahab@outlook.fr>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 20:33:35 +0100
Subject: From: Ms Sarah Abdulahi !!


From: Ms Sarah Abdulahi.
How are you and your family.
Compliment of the day to you and all the members of your family.I am Ms Sarah Abdulahi am from Sierra Leone, but i live in ivory Coast now. I am contacting you because I need your urgent help to secure the money that my late father kept in the bank here on my name before he died.This money is (US$7,500.000) and the money is in a bank here in Abidjan.
My father was a very rich cocoa farmer,but he was poisoned to death by his close business partner because of the big contract he won.While he was dying in the hospital,he told me everything and advice me to run out of Sierra Leone, before his partner will get me and killed me too. This is how i ran down to Abidjan here,where i am presently in a refugee camp.
I want you to stand as my guardian before the bank and receive the money in your account,at my age i can not be able to handle such matter and i do not want to risk my life,because this place is full of desprate people.
I have gone to the bank here with the deposit document,the bank had with my father and they confirmed it ok.
Please I will like you to reply me so that I will give you all the informations about the bank,so that you can contact them.
And after that you will arrange for me to come over to your country and continue my education.
I am waiting for your kind reply and may the Almighty Allah be with you.
Yours faithfuly Sister in Allah. Please Reply me through this email ID (sarah_abdulahi@yahoo.com ) for me to give you other details
Ms. Sarah Abdulahi.
Note: Pls permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you help invest this money into a profitable business in your country.
2. Can you honestly help me as your daughter and keep this trust?
3. What percentage will be good for you after you have help to transfer this money to your country.

Anti-fraud resources: