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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: Albert Otikpo <ecowasmonitoringunitibeninrep@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 09:41:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Greetings to you!


Dear Greetings to you!
Please kindly receive this message with respect. I am soliciting for your assistance to save my life that is in danger because of money, ($3.6 million) I inherited from my late father. I am 23 years old Girl from Ivory Coast, I am presently at Benin Republic now for my safety.My late father was a coffee and cocoa beans exporter when he was alive. He was poisoned to death by my stepmother, he died last November 18th, 2014. Since after the painful death of my late father, my step mother was desperately after my life because of this money.
Please I want you to be my Guardian for the proper investment and management of this money. I need your maximum assistance to transfer this money into any safe bank account you can provide for me and to help me to invest the money into any profitable business investment you can control on my behalf while I continued my studies in any best school.
I have made a vow to give you 30% of this money and you will help me to invest and mange the remaining 70% into any secured investment you can approve. I want you to receive me and help me as your own daughter and as your family member to protect my right and my interest with fear of God as I want to entrust you with all my heart to support me  to archive a better future under your guardian . I'll give you more details as soon as I receive your interest reply. (mary.abasi137@yahoo.fr)
Regards,
Mary Abasi,

Anti-fraud resources: