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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: "maria joseph" <mariajoseph004@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:04:33 +0200
Subject: Maria Joseph from London UK


Dear Friend.

I am happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred
under the cooperation of a new partner from USA . Presently i'm in LONDON
for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.meanwhile,i
didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring
those funds despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary in Benin rep,his name is Mr.Paul folouma on his
email I.D secretaryfolouma@sify.com ask him to send you the total of
$500.000.00 which i kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated your efforts at that time
very much. so feel free and get in touch with my secretary Paul folouma and
instruct him where to send the amount to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy after all the sufferness at that time. in the moment, I'm very busy here
because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having
at hand, finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to the secretary
on your behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get in touch with Paul
folouma, he will send the amount to you without any delay.

Extend my regards to your beloved family.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Maria Joseph from London UK

Anti-fraud resources: