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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: "Charles Dupont" <charles_dupont1@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charles_dupont1@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 16:12:45 +0100
Subject: from charles dupont

Dearest,

I am Charles Dupont and I am the son of late Mr.Didier
Dupont the former C.E.O of Yukos Oil Company in Cote
d'Ivoire. I have a very sensitive and confidential
transactions and will want to use this opportunity to
ask for your partnership in re-profiling funds over
US$16 million. I will give the details, but in
summary, the funds are deposited in dormicilliary
account in one of the apex banks in Cote d'Ivoire.
This is a legitimate transaction. You will be paid 6%
for your "management fees".

If you are interested, please write back by email
charles_dupont1@hotmail.com and provide me with your
confidential telephone number, fax number and email
address and I will provide further details and
instructions. Please keep this confidential.

Finally, please note that this must be concluded
within two weeks. Please write back promptly.

Write me back. I look forward to it.
Sincerely,

Charles Dupont
+225-05-187-147


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