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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: maiga soyata <maigasoyata@outlook.fr>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2016 12:55:06 +0000
Subject:


Dear friend,
I am Barr. Maiga Soyata, the personal attorney to a national of your country, who worked with Shell Petroleum Company Togo. On the 7th June 2011, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident and all lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives this proved unsuccessful. I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$10.5million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated by the Bank where this huge amount were deposited. The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next 21 official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
Regards,
Barr. Barr. Maiga Soyata
Reply To:maigasoyata@outlook.fr


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