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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: "margret madummere" <margret_m20@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 20:39:02 +0000
Subject: REPLY ME

Dear One,

How are you and the daily activities including your family? Hope everybody
is fine. Though we've not met before,my name is Miss Magret Madumere I got
your contact through the Accra chamber of commerce here in Accra Ghana.

I am a citizen of Sierra Leone,the DAUGTHER of the Minister of Mines and
Energy who was killed during the Sierra Leonean war by the rebels. My father
died and left behind physical cash of $22 Million USD which he safely kept
in a Security Finance Company during his regime in the office. I want to
invest this money in any profitable business of your choice in your country.
I am hereby soliciting your assistance to be my foreign partner because I've
not been to Europe/U.S. before in my life. So I don't want to make any
costly mistake that will make me lose my money. You will be entitled to 10%
of the total sum for your assistance.

All I want is for you to receive the money and send invitation letter for me
to join you. Your urgent reply will enable me to arrange with the Security
Finance Company to move this money through their special Diplomatic Courier
Services to your country. For you to claim it till I will meet you up in
your country for my investment. All the necessary documents of deposit from
the Security Company are with me. In your reply, please include your private
telephone and fax numbers.

Thanks for your co-operation.

My best Regards,
Miss Magret Madumere.

_________________________________________________________________
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