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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: "INFO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mi0209866@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2015 17:11:25 +0100
Subject: INFO

Hello
 
I am Ms. Mariam Ibrahim, widow to late Dr. Yusuf Mohy Ibrahim from Libya who was killed during the Libya civil war. I and my child is presently living in Benin Republic at the moment as a refugee. we are residing here in Benin, as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country Libya, I have a sum of US$7,500.000.00 million deposited in an offshore financial house made by my late husband and i need your urgent help to quickly transfer this money from the present financial house to another bank of your choice in your name for investment in your country, it is the only thing left for me and my child now and I want to start a new life with it. Please i need your help to receive this fund because of the current political situation in our country (Libya) and i do not want to lose this money to the rebels or government.
 
Please if you are interested and able to handle this for me in all honesty without any betrayal of trust that I shall repose on you contact me. Please note that this transaction is confidential and should be kept in top secret until we have completed the transfer to your appointed account.
 
I am waiting to hear from you.
 
Ms. Mariam.
 

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