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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: "Ms.Faraa Mensah" <fmeensa19@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Ms.Faraa Mensah" <fmensa19@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2017 01:27:52 +0900 (JST)
Subject: My Request

Hello dear,

I hope this message meet you in good faith

I humbly write to solicit for your partnership and assistance in the transfer and investment of my inheritance funds from my late father. I am Ms.Faraa Mensah, I am 20 years old, am only child of my late parents. I decided to contact you for this offer that is based on trust and you’re outstanding.

It was very evident that my father was poisoned to death. In my culture, when a man dies, if he does not have a male child, the brother takes his property leaving the wife and the daughters empty handed. This is the exact case with me as I am the only daughter, I lost my mother when I was barely a year old and my father refused to re-marry despite all persuasion by friends and relatives, because he felt solely responsible for my mother's death, as he only concentrated on his business that he rarely pays attention to family affairs, He ensured that I will had everything that I wanted. It was as a result that he made me the next of kin to his fund deposit with the bank and stated that in the event of any eventuality, I should have a direct access to the funds only when I am 25 years otherwise, I should have a guardian to intercede on my behalf for the release of the funds to me for investments purpose.

Unlucky he passes away and I wanted to transfers the fund to over sea for investments purpose due to my current situation here. Please if you are interested in this offer kindly give me your full assurance; I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this interesting to assist me. This is 100% legal and risk free hence you make up your mind to follow the instruction to secure the fund into your account, on your confirmation of this message indicate your interest, I have made up my mind to offer you 20% for your kind effort out of the total fund after the successful transferred into your bank account, and the rest will invest in profitable business by you, while I continue my studies. Endeavor to let me know your decision; I hope to hear from you.
Best regard
Ms.Faraa Mensah

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