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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: Charlene Saitoti <charlene.saitoti@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 16:14:08 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello Dear


Hello Dear,
How is everything?  Hope that everything is fine,My  dear, My name is Miss Stella Gallas  from Ivory Coast in West Africa and presently i am residing in the camp here in Ivory Coast as a result  of the civil war that was fought in my country.
I  am single and a God fearing girl of 25 years, My late father Dr Oliver  Gallas  was chairman managing  director of( A COMPANY ) in Abidjan the  Capital City of my Country,and he was also the personal adviser to our  former head of state, before the rebels kidnapped and killed my parents  with my only brother.
I'm the only one alive  from the family. Because I was living in a boarding school then. I pray  that their gentle souls may rest in the bosom of the Lord, Amen.
After  the death of my parents , the war continues and things become  unbearable to me, facing problems and hardship from my wicked uncle who  tried many times to kill me, so that he can have access to my father's  money. he succeeded to have access to my father's local account.Nevertheless,  the merciful God have been my rock of safety and protection from this  ungodly man who thinks that female child is not recognized in their  family lineage.
Right now i am living in Ivory Coast refugee camp in order to protect my life from my wicked uncle.
I  contacted you for help after i have prayed and asked God for direction  to look for a foreign trusted person. That  is my main reason of writing  to you. And I believe that I am not in the wrong side?. But my dear  friend, if you are not to be honest with me, i plead you in the name of  God  to stop writing to me, because I'm privileged to use our Reverend  Pastor's office computer. Please i want to know your sincerity so that i  will not waste my precious time in vain.
And  i will like to know you more than this because i don't want to fall  into the hand of a bad person. I don't want to go further until i  understand your truthfulness and sincerity.
May God in his infinite mercy bless you and prosper you as i wait impatiently to hear from you.
reply in my private email address  (gallas.s@yahoo.com )
Yours Stella gallas

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