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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: "ibrahim_mariam22@yahoo.fr"
Reply-To: <ibrahim_mariam22@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 01:09:51 +0100
Subject: From Ms.Mariam Ibrahim


Hello Dear,
=

I am Mariam Ibrahim, widow to late Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim from Libya who was ki=
lled during the Libya civil war. I and my only child are presently living i=
n Nigeria at the moment as a refugee. we are residing here in Nigeria, as a=
result of the civil war that was fought in our country Libya, I have a sum=
of $10.500.000.00 USD million deposited in United Bank For Africa (UBA)and=
i plead for your help to transfer this money from United Bank For Africa (=
UBA) to another bank of your choice in your name for investment in your cou=
ntry. Please this transaction requires immediate attention because of the p=
olitical situation in our country (Libya) and i do not want to lose this mo=
ney to the rebels or government, because this is the only thing left for me=
and my child now and I want to start a new life with it. My late husband w=
as the then managing director of a Gold & Mine Ind in Libya before rebels a=
ttacked our house and killed him in cold blood.
=

It is a huge sum of money which i can't afford to lose that is why i am pl=
eading for you to stand as the beneficiary and transfer to your bank accoun=
t of your choice; i will offer you 30% of the total sum as soon as it confi=
rmed pay into your account. I believe you can help me, but on the contrary =
please forgive my indulgence and delete this e-mail content without sharing=
with anyone, as i am writing without any other person(s) pre-knowledge of =
my contacting you.
=

But if you are interested and able to handle this for me in all honesty wi=
thout any betrayal of trust that I shall repose on you, please contact me f=
or more details.
=

I am waiting to hear from you.
Thank you,
Ms. Ibrahim.

Anti-fraud resources: