419 scam: "LARISA SOSNITSKAYA" <larissa190@aim.com> READ THIS PLEASE!!!

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a "Yukos oil" scam. The criminals who send such emails have no connection to Yukos Oil. The emails are usually sent from Nigeria. The only money that ever changes hands in this scam is from you to the criminals.

Fraud email example:

From: "LARISA SOSNITSKAYA" <larissa190@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 04:21:30 +1100
Subject: READ THIS PLEASE!!!

DEAR FRIEND,

MY NAME IS MRS.LARISA SOSNITSKAYA, PERSONAL SECRETARY TO MR.BORIS
MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY, THE ARRESTED
CHAIRMAN/CEO OF YUKOS OIL AND BANK MENATEP SPB IN RUSSIA. I HAVE THE
DOCUMENTS OF A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDS
WHICH HE HANDED OVER TO ME BEFORE HE WAS DETAINED AND NOW BEEN TRIED IN
RUSSIA FOR FINANCING POLITICAL PARTIES
(THE UNION OF RIGHT FORCES, LED BY BORIS NEMTSOV AND YABLOKO, A
LIBERAL/SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LED BY GREGOR
YAVLINSKY) OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MR.VLADMIR PUTIN, THE PRESIDENT
THEREBY LEADING TO THE FREEZING OF HIS
FINANCES AND ASSETS.

AFTER SEARCHING THROUGH THE BOOKS OF YOUR COUNTRY'S CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
AND INDUSTRIES HERE IN RUSSIA I AM
CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST ME TO RE-PROFILE THE FUNDS AND EQUALLY INVEST SAME
ON HIS BEHALF. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
FUNDS TO BE RE-PROFILLED IS FORTY SIX MILLION DOLLARS (USD$46,000,000.00)
AND YOU WILL BE PAID 20% FOR YOUR
MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE, I WILL SEND YOU THE NECESSARY DETAILS
AND MY IDENTIFICATION.

YOURS SINCERELY,

MRS.LARISA SOSNITSKAYA.

NB: YOU CAN READ MORE OF HIS ORDEAL FROM:
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/03/29/58914.html
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11261041
http://www.supportmbk.com
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Mikhail-Khodorkovsky

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam