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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: "sandra osji" <sandra101@telegraf.by>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 01:41:11 +0100
Subject: Greeting From Mrs Sandra And Son


*Greeting From Mrs Sandra And Son

Dear Friend,
It is my great pleasure and the trust which I have on you, though we have
not met before, neither have we seen for the first time, but before I pick
up your E-mail contact and write to you I prayed over it that God should
direct me to a trustworthy and God fearing partner who will help me to
invest this money in a good business of your choice.*
**
*For this will permit me to go into business relationship with you, since I
have made up my mind to make this money transfer with you. My name is Mrs
Sandra Osji 42 years old the wife of Late Amadu Brown Osji who was a Cocoa
and Gold marchant in Cotonou Republic of Benin and i have only one child His
name is KENNETH.*
**
*My husband was poisoned to death by his business associate on one of their
business outings to Accra Ghana,on 19th Oct 2005. Before the death of my
husband on the 26th December 2005 in a private hospital here. He sincerely
called me on his bed side and told me that he had a sum of ($5.M US.DOLLARS)
which he deposited in Finance Firm *

*He also used his name to Deposit the money and explained to me that it was
because of his 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 purposes, I want you to assist
me by investing this money into a good business and also be a guardian over
this money I am honourably seeking for your assistance in the following
ways.*
**
*(1)To assist me to transfer this money into your account successfully
(2)To provide a trust bank account where this money would be transfered.
(3)To make arrangement for me and my son to come over to your country for
investment,
(4)To help find admission in a good university to enable him finish his
educational career in your country. *
**
*In line with this,am willing to offer you 30% percent of the total sum as
compensation for your effort/input after the successfull transfer of this
fund in your safe account Below informations is what i need from you so that
the bank can start this transfer immediately without delay.*
**
*Your Bank name and addres together with Account Number Your direct
Telephone and Fax Numbers and Your full name and address. On receipt of the
above mentioned informations, I believe that this transaction would be
concluded within 7 working days as the bank Director promised me that he
will commence on the transfer immediately if i provide a bank account for
remittance. PLEASE REPLY WITH IS E-MAIL
osji.sandra@gmail.com<http://us.mc597.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=osji.sandra@gmail.com>
*
**
*I am waiting to hear from you soonest. *
*Thanks and God bless you for your kind understanding.*
**
*Best Regards,
Mrs Sandra Osji and Son.*

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