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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: "ROSELINE PETERS" <rpeters@tsamail.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: rosepeters1@eramail.co.za
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 11:20:42 +0100
Subject: REPLY ASAP

FROM MRS ROSELINE PETERS
EMAIL:(rosepeters1@eramail.co.za)
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE WE HAVE
NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF
THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF INTO. I GOT YOUR
CONTACT ADDRESS DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE
AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST
MOMENT OF MY LIFE.I LOST MY HUSBAND, AND TWO CHILDREN,
SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS,INCLUDING OUR FAMILY HOUSE DURING THE
BOMB EXPLOSION WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THE 27TH OFJANUARY,2002
AT THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS)HERE IN MY COUNTRY
NIGERIA. I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO
BE OUTSIDE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM
WRITING YOU NOW FROM CAMP WHERE THE VICTIMS OF THE
EXPLOSION ARE KEPT INCLUDING MYSELF.NO HOUSE, NO GOOD FOOD
,NO GOOD HEALTH.BEFORE MY HUSBAND,S SUDDEN DEATH. HE KEPT
THE SUM OF US$11,000,000.00 (ELEVEN MILLION US DOLLARS) IN
CASH WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY VAULT.NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND
I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST
ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A
PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND RELOCATE MYSELF TO JOIN YOU
IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
HERE IN NIGERIA, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY
LONGER.PLEASE INDICATE YOUR READINESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT
ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS WILL BE PASSED TO YOU
IMMEDIATELY.SEND TO ME YOUR TEL / FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY
COMMUNICATION.AND ALSO ASSURE ME THAT YOU WILL NOT BETRAY
ME AT THE END.KEEP THIS TRANSACTION TO YOURSELF ONLY. IF
THIS TRANSACTION IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, I AM PREPARED TO
GIVE YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.
PLS RESPOND THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY REASONS
:(rosepeters1@eramail.co.za)
REGARDS,
MRS ROSELINE PETERS.
PLEASE VIEW THESE WEBSITES BELOW TO CONFIRM WHAT I AM
TELLING YOU AND GET BACK TO ME.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm
http://www.worldsocialist-cwi.org/index2.html?/eng/2002/02/02.html


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