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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: cynthia paul <cynthiap1@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 07:07:11 -0300
Subject: Good day my dearest.

Good day my dearest.

I am Miss Cynthia Paul from Ivory Coast and i will want you to be kind with me in the name of almighty God. I inherited an important some from my late Father who died after the recent crisis in Ivory Coast. I wish to request for your assistance in investing this sum in lucrative venture or manufacturing and real estate management in your country. I have the sum of Two million, Three hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD($2,300,000) to invest in this transaction and I will require your assistance in receiving the fund in your account in your country. I will gladly give you some reasonable percent from the total sum for your
assistance.

Before his death he gave me all the necessary legal documents to the deposit of the fund in a Security Firm here in Abidjan, I am 23 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds and after the tran sa ction I will come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will be convenient for me to return back home if I so desire. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs from the hands of my wicked uncles, and i really need to be free.

I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. I know that you will not betray me even when the money will arrive into your account, and i believe that God will touch your heart so that you will be honest with me. Now permit me to ask these few questions:

1. Can you honestly help me from your heart?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage will you appreciate in return?

Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immediately I confirm your willingness, I will send to you my picture and also give you more details about me and the Security Firm were my late Father deposited the fund, so that you can reach them and confirm the ex ist ence of the fund as well, because seeing is believing.

God Bless You.   
Yours Miss.                
Cynthia Paul.
 

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