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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: Ariana Konane <arianakonane17@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Ariana Konane <arianakonane17@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2015 23:12:04 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Miss. Ariana Konane


Miss. Ariana Konane

In confidence,i have to introduce myself
for i am Miss. Ariana Konane, 21 years old, I am the only daughter of late Mr
& Mrs. Wilfried Konane. I prayed before contacting you, please for God sake
do not see my mail as an embarrassment as we do not know each other before.
 
I wish to request for your assistance in
my efforts to procure the transfer of my inherited money for investment
ventures under your care and directive,while i will continue my education there
in your country. I inherited Six Million,Four Hundred Thousand Dollars
($6,400,000.00) here in my name with one of the prime bank in my country and I
will require your assistance in receiving the transfer of my inherited money in
your local account for investment purposes,as it is my wish to come over to
your country to further my education while you take care of the investment of
the money.
 
Please i am an orphan and i need your
assistance to transfer my inherited money to your country and also your
assistance to secure a nice school for me in your country where I will continue
my education.Please know that all is legally as i have with me all the
documents that's covered the deposit fund which i legally inherited from my
late father.
 
Thanks so much.
I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours sincerely.
Ariana Konane

Anti-fraud resources: