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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: "Helen Kolonga" <helenkolonga2@msn.com>
Reply-To: helenkolonga@gawab.com
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 09:25:45 +0000
Subject: From: Helen Kolonga

From: Helen Kolonga
Rue 6 BP 01 Cocody Abidjan CI
Cote d Ivoire.
+225 08 42 10 57

I know that my message will come to you as a surprise
since I don’t know you in person or met with you
before, but I am of the believe that you would obliged
to come to my assistance .

I was, until recently, a Medical student of the
University of Abidjan, Ivory Coast West Africa. Late
last year October 2004, the Rebels in my Country
Struck our township and killed my parents and my only
sister in one of their attacks. My late Father, Guei
Kolonga being the former president.

Before his death he had a domicilary account with a
bank in Côte d'Ivoire, up to the tune of(Nine Million
Five Hundred Thousand dollars) . Please I need your
assistance getting this money tranferred to you for
investment and to be my guardian in investment.

Your Sincerely
HELEN.



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