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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: "Miss Sali Tawalla" <help@infodesk.net>
Reply-To: misssali22@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:45:08 -0600
Subject: Dear Daddy and Mmummy<help your daughter>

Greetings,
My Dearest One,
My name is Mr Sali Tawalla, am a young girl, 22years of age and I am from Ivory Coast. I know that this mail may look very worrying and disturbing to you as I do not know you in person but I will plead that you go through it closely and help me because I am really in need of your help at this point in time. I have been looking for a reliable foreign investor for urgent business assistance. But since I don’t want to run into some mischievous people, I have been hesitant of opening up to anybody. My father was assassinated in this current political crises that is going on in Cote d Iviore last year. He was falsely accused of being one of the major sponsoring of the Rebel groups.
Few weeks later my mother died of heart failure as a result of the psychological torture, she went through, watching these heartless soldiers, snuffing life out of her husband.
Before the death of my both parents, my father used to be a wealthy man, who owns the largest fishing company in the country, including other financial institutions where he was one of the major share holders, but all these has been seized by the government due to my father's allegedly involvement with rebels. Ever since then, my life hangs in doubts and my security can not be guarantee. Before the death of my both parents, my father told me about a consignment he kept in a security company In Ghana west africa for safe keeping and that the content is $6million.Though this is not to the knowledge of the security company. And I therefore appealing to you to kindly assist me and invest this money in your country while you make provision for my coming up to your country and for the continuation of my education, since my security can no longer be guarantee here and the political situations in my country is not stable.i had to run away to Ghana to be in a refugee camp. Note that after the successful transfer of the money into
your account that you will be given 45% of the total money as your commission,while 5% to be made available for any expenses made by you and the other 50% you will invest it in a Good investment for me, while the profits that will come from any good venture you might suggest will be shared as it will be negotiated. Just imagine a 22 years old girl being left alone to face all the challenges of this life, but I believe somebody somewhere will come to loves and care for me.
This relationship is based on trust and mutual understanding.
The confidentiality must always be maintained.
Please do indicate your willingness to assist me.
I am looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks and God bless.

Your's sincerely
Sali Tawalla

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