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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: "Mark Gyan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gyanmark1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 03:22:35 -0500
Subject: BOM DIA SENHOR

Bom Dia senhor,
Espero que esta mensagem encontra-lo em boas condições de saúde.
Meu nome é Mark Gyan, eu e minha mãe herdou algum dinheiro de meu falecido pai que foi morto durante a recente crise política no meu país.
O valor é a soma de 12,6 milhões dólares americanos (doze milhões, seiscentos mil dólares) do fundo está em um banco aqui em Abidjan.
Afirmou-se que apenas o parceiro estrangeiro para o meu falecido pai entrará em contato com o banco para o lançamento do fundo, este era arranjo meu falecido pai com o banco antes de ser morto, e é por isso que eu estou entrando em contato agora.
Minha mãe está muito doente agora e ela está sofrendo de leucemia, sua condição está piorando no momento, eu espero trazê-la comigo para o seu país, assim que a transferência for concluída a sua conta.
Nós acreditamos que você é uma pessoa honesta para nos ajudar nesta matéria, e nós concordamos em oferecer-lhe toda 30% do total do fundo para a sua assistência para nós, uma vez que a transação seja concluída.
Responder mais rapidamente possível e por favor, mantenha esta operação confidencial.
Obrigado e cumprimentos,
Mark Gyan.
--------------

Good day sir,
I hope this message meets you in good health.
My name is Mark Gyan, i and my mother inherited some money from My late father who was killed during the recent political crisis in my country.
The amount is the sum of $12.6 million (twelve million, six hundred thousand dollars) the fund is in a bank here in Abidjan.
It was stated that only the foreign partner to my late father will contact the bank for the release of the fund, this was my late father’s arrangement with the bank before he was killed, and that is why i am contacting you now.
My mother is very sick now and she is suffering from leukemia, her condition is worsening at the moment, i hope to bring her with me to your country as soon as the transfer is completed to your account.
We believe you are a honest person to help us in this matter, and we have agreed to offer you whole 30% of the total fund for your assistance to us, once the transaction is completed.
Reply as soon as possible and please keep this transaction confidential.
Thanks and best regards,
Mark Gyan.

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