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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: "Isabelle Ifra" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ifraisabelle@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2019 17:31:22 -0700
Subject: Good Day. .

Good Day to you.
My name is: Ifra Isabelle Bamaa,
I'm contacting because I want to be your friend and confide in you.
I have in my possession now 247 KG of Gold Bars, Quality: 22 carat, 95%pure that I inherited from my late mother.
I want you to buy or help me to find a buyer who can buy the gold at good price more than African price so you can help me to invest the money in your country since I has (have) no business idea.
I want to leave Cote d'Ivoire and relocate to your country to continue my education in your country. I want you to stand by me as my tutor to sell this gold and for investment in your country.
Note that I am writing you this email purely on the ground of trust because I don't know you and we have not met before. I found you here and my mind convinced me that I can trust you.
Waiting to hear from you.
Yours Truly,
Miss BAMAA Ifra Isabelle

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