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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: Patience Johnson <mrspatiencejonson@voila.fr>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 04:32:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT/CONFIDENCIAL







#yiv1887031880 p { margin: 0px; }#yiv1887031880 ul { margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; }#yiv1887031880 ol { margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; }
















FROM: MRS. PATIENCE JOHNSON.
 
 OUAGADOUGOU , BURKINA FASO.
 
 
RE: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE,
 
Sir,
 
I am writing with my personal respect with regards to
your reposed personality / firm as a reliable, Trustworthy and God fearing.  I
got your contact through the help a friend who works at the Chamber of Commerce
in Ouagadougou the Capital of Burkina Faso.
 
In deed I am the wife of
Late MR. EDWARD JOHNSON from Sierra Leone . I and my two children are presently
staying in Burkina Faso as Refugees, my husband was one of the Ministers of
Johnny Paul Koromah' s regime in Sierra Leone . During the intervention of the
ECOMOG Soldiers to Restore the presidency of Alhaji Tejan KABBAH from Johnny
Koromah, my husband was among the 23 executed Ministers. As our breadwinner is
dead (my husband) And our stay in Sierra Leone is no more safe, I and my Two
children decided to move to Burkina Faso a Neighboring African Country for
safety. Due to our Status in Burkina Faso as refugees I was forced to Lodge our
family funds (US$13.5m Million) in a finance house.
 
Since then we have
been receiving help from our Mission , because we are staying in one of the
Visitor's villa in the church premises and attends Fellowship and worship fully.
I hope you will be Touched to understand my request. We have agreed to invest
our money in a viable business venture overseas country through your assistance
and directives. You will provide or look for a lucrative business venture where
this money can be invested on. Before proceeding further, we will get to be more
familiar and also go into an understanding working agreement because our
family's Future now depends on this money. The boxes containing the money and
treasures were all deposited and registered as family treasures. This was done
for Security reasons we would like to know what you will take as your percentage
for assisting us. We sincerely wish to introduce and make you our Business
Partner and overseer of our proposed Investment in your Country. We are prepared
to send all the documents regarding to this deposit as soon as you show your
concerned interest through an email response including the
following
 
Your full names and Office or residential
address........
 Private telephone and fax
numbers.......................
Your private email
address...............................
 
 
Best regards,
 
Mrs.
PATIENCE JOHNSON.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




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