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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Lilian Limba" <lilian_lim@mighty.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 22:08:29 +0000
Subject: URGENT PROPOSAL.

GREETING

SIR/MADAM

CERTAINLY YES,THIS PROPOSAL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE.IT IS A PRIVILAGE AND IT DEMANDS AN UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY AND HONEST.MY NAME IS MRS.LILIAN LIMBA WIFE OF THE FORMER MINISTER OF DIAMOND AND MINERAL OF SIERRA LEONE.MY HUSBAND DIED RECENTLY AS A RESULT OF AN ACUTE HEART PROBLEM.

RIGHT NOW, I AM IN POSSESSION OF ($12.5MILLION) UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN A FINANCE COMPANY IN ACCRA,CAPITAL CITY OF GHANA WHERE I AM CURRENTLY ON TRANSIT AWAITING AN HONEST OVERSEA`S PARTNER FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

THOUGH IT IS MY DESIRE TO GO INTO PROPERTY INVESTMENTS OR ANY OTHER AREA OF YOUR CHIOCE YOU MAY ADVICE.AND I HAVE ALSO MAPPED-OUT 30% COMMISSION FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE INCLUDING ANY EXPENSES YOU MAY INCURED BEFORE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSACTION FROM THE TOTAL SUM.

SO IF YOU`RE INTERESTED TO ASSIST IN THIS REGARD,KINDLY CONFIRM THIS MESSAGE UPON RECEIPT THROUGH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS,TO ENABLE ME KNOW MY NEXT LINE OF ACTION AND GIVE YOU ENOUGH DETAILS.

AWAITING YOUR EARLIEST RESPONSE SOONEST.GOD BLESS YOU.

BEST REGARDS,

MRS.LILIAN LIMBA


Anti-fraud resources: