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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: Estelle Kouassi <estelle.kouassi4@btinternet.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 10:50:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Miss Estelle




Miss Estelle Kouassi
Villa 99 Lot 202,Deux
Plateau District,Abidjan
Cote D'Ivoire.Dear
 
My name is Miss Estelle Kouassi (21yrs)  am living in Cote D' Ivoire,West Africa,an only child and an orphan, it is true that we do not know each other in person but knowing someone starts in a day therefore It pleases me to contact you for a Financial business partnership,Although we have never met, but I decided to entrust you with this business.
 
My late father was a successful businessman and a cocoa merchant, he was out of envy poisoned to death by his close business associate, before his death he deposited the sum of eighteen million USD ($ 18,000,000.00) in a top security company here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. The security company does not know that the metal box deposited by my late father is containing money.
 
Therefore I will want you to help me to retrieve this box transfer the money to your personal account. Finally help me to come over to your country and also help me in investing the money,I will like to invest in any of these areas.
 
1)Telecommunications
2) Transportation Industry
3) five-star Hotel
4) Estate management.
 
Iam offering you 20% of the total money as your compensation as soon as the transaction is concluded. I await your response as soon as possible to enable me give you full details and please in your reply do include these information for me:
 
1.Your Full names 2.Your resident address 3.Your Telephone Number 4.Your Occupation.
 
Once i receive the above information, I will give you the contact of the security company as well as the certificate of deposit to the said deposit with which you will prove to the security company that you are the beneficiary of the deposit.
   
 
May the Lord bless you.
Miss Estelle Kouassi.

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