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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: "Braxton, Brenda" <braxtonb@karmanos.org>
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 23:16:13 -0400
Subject: For Your Assistance

Dear Sir,
I write to you in grief and a position of trust which I hope will not be betrayed. I am Farida Masalli,from Malta,Syria.
I was engaged to be married to a leading figure in the government of Al Assad our troubled leader,my fiancee was killed in the ensuing imbroglio of the regime .
I was made to keep in safe custody a not too large amount in trust of my fiancee as appreciation, in a programmed deposit account in a local bank here.Currently I am under persecution by the family of my late fiancee who feels I should be disinherited as I was not married to him legally.
Upon the death of my fiancee and with the assistance of a high ranking official has been able to stash away this sum and will want you to assist in taking it abroad.
I am more or less the owner of the sum and will only advise you in the best way to safe keep it in trust for me as someone who is not in any way related to me and has never had any contact with the regime in any way.
For your assistance you will be rewarded with 20% of the total fund transferred in your care. I do hope this trust will not be betrayed, let me hear from you and there will be further explanations to any concern of yours.I am currently in hiding here in Malta.
Reply to: licenseoil@yahoo.com
Truly,
Miss Farida Massalli.


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