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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: "Pius Saidu Momoh" <pius_momoh1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: pius_momoh10@cantv.net
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:54:27 -0400
Subject: From Pius Saidu Momoh




Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Pius Saidu Momoh and my Sister's name Grace, We are the children of Late Saidu
Momoh the former Director of military intelligence and special acting General
Manager of Sierra Leone Diamond mining cooperation (SLDMC). I am contacting you to
seek your good assistance to transfer and invest fourteen million united state
dollars ($14 Million) belonging to my late father which he deposited in a bank here
in Abidjan. This money is revenues from solid minerals and diamonds sale which were
under my father’s possession before the civil war broke out. Following the break
out of the war, almost all government offices, operations and prostates were
attacked and vandalized.

The SLDMC was loathed and burnt down to ashes, and diamonds worth millions of
dollars was stolen by the rebel military forces that attacked my father’s office.
Many top government officials and senior army officers were assassinated and my
father was a key target because of his very sensitive military position and
appointment in the SLDMC. Regrettably, my father was captured and murdered along
with half brother in cool blood during a mid-night rebel shoot-out when our
official residence in Freetown was arm bushed by Fordey Sanko the notorious rebel
leader. My mother sustainded very sever bullet injuries which resulted to her
untimely and painful death in a private hospital here in Ivory Coast.

Now we are alone in a totally strange country without parents, relatives or any
body to care for us at our tender ages. Before our mother died, she told us that
our father deposited some money which he made from diamond sales and deposited it
in a bank here in Ivory Coast and that we should pray and find a trust worthy
foreign business partner who will help us to transfer and invest this money in
profitable business venture overseas.

She told us to do this quickly so that we can leave Ivory Coast and, then settle
down abroad. She gave us the bank document to prove the deposit and then told us
that my father used my name as the only son to deposit the money in the bank. She
told us that this is the reason why we came to Ivory Coast. My mother died after
wards, may her spirit rest in perfect peace.

I have gone to the bank to make inquires about this money and I spoke with the
Manager of International remittance who assured me that everything is intact and
promised to help me transfer this money to my foreign partners bank account as soon
as I provide my partners foreign bank account for them. However, the manager is
very concerned because of my age. I am 20 years old and as such advised that I
should look for a matured person that will represent me at the bank.

If you are willing to assist us, please let us know immediately so that you will
arrange the transfer of the money to your account with the bank. Please note that
we will offer you 20% of the total money as compensation for your noble assistance
in accordance with my mother’s advice. We are interested in any profitable
commercial venture which you consider very well in your country and you would also
get a school for me and my little sister so that we can finish our college
education in your country.

Please there is urgent need for the money to be transferred to your account and I
am hoping to hear your urgent response so that I can not look for another foreign
partner.

Thank you and may God bless you and your dear family. Please email us at:
(pius_momoh10@cantv.net)

Yours sincerely
Pius Saidu Momoh.

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