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

Fraud email example:

From: MARYAN MASALA <mm_sala15@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <maryan_50@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:01:05 +0100
Subject: Urgent Respond Please.



Attn: Dear Friend. Operational

I know this proposal letter may come to you as a surprise considering the fact that we have not had any formal acquaintance before .but all the same I would want you for the sake of God to give this an immediate attention in view of the fact that the security of my live and possession is at stake. Introducing myself, I am (Miss Maryan Masala) ,black in colour,5ft tall, the only daughter of the late Mr and Mrs RICHARD MASALA , my father was a Gold and cocoa merchant based in Accra,Ghana and Abidjan and (jnb) south africa . He was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their business trips. Before the death of my father in a private hospital here in south africa. he secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a (treasure box) worth sum of USD$12.5M (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S) deposited in a security company my father told me that he used my name as his only daughter for the next of kin in depositing the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates, that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose.
I am humbly seeking your assistance in the following way, to assist me and transfer this money in your country. I will explain more about myself to you if you show me your concern and geniue williness to assist me lift my bulk of money to your country. Please kindly reply me back to my private email below. ( maryan_50@excite.com ) Thank you once again and bye.
yours SincerelyMiss Maryan Masala

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