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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: MARIAM <mariamcoulibaly160@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: mariamcoulibaly160@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 15:11:09 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear beloved in christ




Dear  beloved in christ

It is with profound respect and humble submission,I beg to state the following few lines for your kind consideration, I hope you will spare some of your valuable minutes to read the following appeal with sympathetic mind. I must confess that it is with great hopes, joy and enthusiasm that I write you this mail which I know and believe by the faith that it must surely find you in good condition of health.

My name is mariam ,a complete citizen of sierra leone.I am the only Daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs  salem. My Father was cocoa merchant before his death,and i lost my father on a plane crash when he was on his way from sierra leone to Cote d'ivoire on a business trip on the day of june 6 2010, and i lost my mother when i was at the age of 10 years old due to illness and since then my father took me so special.

After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my late father's property to an italian man which they shared the money among themselves and left nothing for me.One faithful morning i opened my father's briefcase and found out the certificate which he use in depositing the sum of ($19.2Million USD) in one of the reliable banks in Cote d'ivoire with my name as the next of kin. I travelled down to Cote d'ivoire to withdraw the money for a better life so that I can take care of myself and start a new life, on my arrival,the Bank Director whom I met in person told me that the agreement made and sign by my late father on the day of deposite to the bank is that the money would only be released to me when i am at the age of 27 years old or when i present a legal trustee which we help me claim the money from the bank.
Now i am in search of a honest and reliable person who will help me stand as a trustee so that I will present him to the Bank for the transfer of the money to his bank account overseas because i am not up to 27 years i am just 19 years of age. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and fasting and I believe that you will not betray my trust,but rather take me as your own sister or daughter. Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convinces me that you may be the true person to help me. Moreso, I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me contact the bank so that the money can be transfered into your bank account in your country and also help me relocate to your country because my stepmother have threatened to assasinate me and that is why i decide to stay right here in Cote d' Ivoire untill i get the money from the bank and relocate from here to your country.And i
have confirmed the amount from the bank in Cote d' Ivoire on my arrival.

I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you honestly help me from your heart?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money has being transferred to your account?
Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immediately I confirm your willingness, I will send to you my Passport copy and also inform you more details involved in this matter.
Anticipating hearing from you soon.
Thanks and may Allah bless you for your concern to help an orphan like me.
MARIAM


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