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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Dennis Tora" <dennistora1@katamail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 17:35:08 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY

DENNIS TORA
TELEPHONE:+22507062686
ABIDJAN,COTE D'IVORIE
WEST AFRICAN

ATTN:

DEAREST ONE,

I AM DENNIS AND ROSE TORA, THE CHILDREN OF LATE MR AND MRS FREDRICK
TORA. MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN,
THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO
DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS
ON A BUSINESS.

WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1985, MY FATHER TOOK
US SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE WERE MOTHERLESS.

BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2002 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL
HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD
ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$17,500,000 (SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL
BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT
OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE
OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES. THAT I
SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL
TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).

SIR, I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

1)TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO
2)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM A BOY OF 19 AND MY SISTER 17 YEARS
3)TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR US TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY
AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.

MOREOVER, SIR, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS
COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER
OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NORMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS.

ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PLEASE CALL ME ONCE YOU RECEIVED THIS MAIL.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS
DENNIS AND ROSE TORA


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