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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: MISS KATE JOHNSON <kate.johnson17@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: misskatejohnson101@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:47:55 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM: MISS KATE JOHNSON





FROM: MISS KATE JOHNSON
ABIDJAN COTE D’IVOIRE .
 
Hello Dear,
 
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into relationship with you. I have the believe you are a reputable and responsible and trustworthy person I can do relay with for a partner and by matter of trust I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere transaction.
 
I am Kate Johnson 22 years of age the only daughter of late Mr. & Mrs. David Johnson whom was killed by the rebels that attacked our country Cote d'Ivoire West Africa and took over our town ( BOUAKE ). I ran to Abidjan  the economical capital  from were I am contacting you. Before the death of my father he told me that he has a sum of US$9,000,000(Nine Million United States Dollars) kept in a private security company in Cote d’Ivoire in my name as the next of kin.
 
Dear, in the capacity of the next of kin and with all the documents in my hand now, I am contacting you with due sense of humanity that you will give it a sympathetic and mutual consideration.
I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways.
 
(1)To serve as the guardian of this fund and to come assist me visit the security company here to retrieve the consignment.
 
(2)To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
 
(3)To provide good investment plans for the fund and an account where this money would be transferred to.
 
Moreover, I am willing to offer you a certain percentage which we will be discuss if we proceed.
 
Furthermore, Please I want you to keep this transaction to your self for my security here, until it finally comes to your account.
I'm anticipating hearing from you.
 
Thanks and God bless.
Yours sincerely,
MISS KATE JOHNSON

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