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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: "From Mr Stephen kone" <stekone08@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: stekone06@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:32:03 +0100
Subject: From Mr Stephen kone


Dear=2C

I Hope This Mail Meets You In Good Health And Spirit=2C I Am=2C Stephen kone=2C A
Sierra Leonia=2E Presently=2C I Live As A Refugee In republic of senegal dakar =2C With My Younger Sister=2CJoy I Am A Victim Of War And The Son Of Late Chief John kone The Assassinated Former Assistant Director Of Sierra Leone Gold And Diamond Mining
Corporation=2E

My Father Was Killed With Other Government Officials During Official Hours When The Rebel Troops Stormed And Raided The Mining Corporation Office At The Heat Of The Crisis In My Country=2E A Few Weeks Later=2C

The Rebels Also Invaded Our Residential Building In Which My Mother And Two Of Our Security Men Were Killed In The Compound While I Was Out For A Special Research Program And My Younger Sister Was In School=2E

I Had A Singular Shock And Trauma=2C Which Compelled Us To Flee From The Country To republic of senegal dakar By The Help Of An Army Colonel=2C Who Is A Close Friend Of My Late Father=2C I Have First Degree In Marketing And Would Have Further My Education If Not For The Death Of My Parents=2E I Have Never Worked To Earn My Living Since My Late Parents Had Enough Wealth For Us=2E

I Am Contacting You Now Because Of The Present Difficulty I Am Facing=2E Unfortunately My Father's Two Accounts In West Africa Have Recently Been Frozen=2E
However This Did Not Affect The Seven Million And Six Hundred Thousand Dollars
=28Us$ 7=2C600=2C000=29=2C Which He Kept In a security company =3B

For Now=2C I Am Having Every Information And Document Needed For The Clearance Of The Money In The security company And I Want You To Act As The Beneficiary Of The Fund For Easy And Smooth Transfer To Your Account Abroad For Investment Purposes=2E

You Will No Doubt Be Adequately Compensated With As Well As A Percentage Of The Profit From Investment Of The Fund=2E Also You Will See To It That My Sister And I Come Over To Your Country At The Earliest Possible Time=2E I Am Making This Request To You With Tears In My Eyes And I Feel That God Almighty Will Touch You With His Spirit To Listen To My Cry For Help And Answer Me Without Delay=2E

Since Our Breadwinner Is No More And This Is The Only Hope For Life=2E You Positive Response Will Give Me The Greatest Joy And Relief=2E God Bless You
For Your Kind Assistance We Have Agreed To Offer You 20% Of The Total Sum=2E Seriously Waiting For Your=2Ci will you to give me your Full contact like=2E

1=2EFULL NAMES
2=2EADDRESS
3=2EAGE
4=2EOCCUPATION
5=2ETELEPHONE NUMBER
6=2ECOUNTRY

Urgent Reply=2E
Best regard

Mr=2EStephen kone





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