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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: Maiman Coulibaly <maimancoulibaly@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:06:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Mr.Maiman Coulibaly 30/09/2011


Dear Sir/Madam,
 
How are you today with your family?
 
This business transaction might not fall within the wide spectrum of your business activities, but I plead your assistance, as your flair for profitable business is needed.
 
Permit me to introduce myself; I am Mr.Maiman Coulibaly,SENIOR MGR,SPECIAL ASSETS,with a Commercial Bank here in Abidjan, Cote d'ivoire, I am writing this letter to ask for your support and co-operation to carry out this business opportunity in my department.
 
Every Three years, Ivorien banks transfer to its treasury millions of dollars of unclaimed deceased depositor’s funds in compliance with the banking laws and guidelines, in majority of cases with reference to my bank,the money normally runs into
several millions of dollars.
 
A foreigner, Late Engineer.Mark, an Oil Merchant/Contractor in Abidjan,Cote d'ivoire, until his death four years ago in a ghastly Auto crash has a closing balance of US 18,500,000.00(Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars)Ever since his death and up till this time of writing, no next-of-kin or relation of his has come forward to claim his money with us.
 
Fervent valuable efforts have been made by our Bank, to get in touch with any of the family or relatives but proved to no avail.
 
Naturally, as long as His money remains unclaimed, the bank remains richer in free funds with his money.
 
However, with my position, I can present you to claim the fund as his relative/next of kin if you agree with me on private basis, yes I can present you.
 
The request for you as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and an Ivorien citizen cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner, Hence, I plead for your assistance with the intention of getting this unclaimed money amounting to US 18,500,000.00(Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) transferred into a company/private bank account that you will provide.
 
You stand to gain a negotiable percentage of the fund if you agree to help me actualize this opportunity; I will not contact any other company or person until I am convinced that you are not interested in this proposal.
 
I will also require your advice on the areas of investment as I plan to establish a business venture in your country with my share.
 
Contact me immediately indicating your willingness and also give me your direct and confidential phone numbers for the effective communication that this transaction requires.
 
I will furnish you with the procedure.
 
Remember that a business of this nature needs to be kept confidential.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mr.Maiman Coulibaly.

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