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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: "Prince martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <princemartinsjohnson@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:01:50 -0000
Subject: Request !

Dear Friend,

I am Prince Martins Johnson from sierra Leone requesting your assistance for me to come to your country with my inheritance one consignment box containing 25,million united state dollars pure dollar bills and raw diamond stones deposited with a security company by my (FATHER).My Father is a king and the president of Diamond miner’s in my community but he is late now.

I have a little problem at the security company,i am 17 years of age and my Father had entered an agreement with the Security company that should the sudden occurrence of his death before its claim,the security company should not released the box to me unless I am 21 years of age but my foreign beneficiary. The security company will have the consignment box delivered to you and i am ready to offer you 30% of the $25,million and the opportunity to invest my share in your country as i will like to leave with you to further my education.I have all the documents.

Yours sincerely,
Prince Martins Johnson.

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