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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: Vivian Atta <vivian_atta500@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: vivian_atta1000@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2013 09:36:36 +0100 (BST)
Subject: From Ms.Princess Vivian Atta




Hello My Dear,



With Respect,



Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you.



I know that this mail may come to you as a surprise, since we have not known or written before.



After you receive this mail kindly contact me on my private for the full details of the transfer.



I am Miss. Ms.Princess Vivian Atta, the only Daughter of the late Atta Gavin, my father was a gold and cocoa merchant based in Accra, Ghana and Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and He was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their business trips recently.



Before his death, he called me on his bedside and confided in me that he has the sum of $4.500, 000USD deposited in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan Ivory coast, that he used my name being the only Daughter as the next of kin in deposited fund.



My dear contact me on my private email for the full information and my picture and the deposited slip and other documents concerning the transfer.



I will need your assistance as follows;



1) To assist me in retrieving this money from the bank.



2) To serve as the guardian of this fund.



3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a residential permit in your country.





Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effortinput after the successful transfer of this fund to your nominated account overseas.



Awaiting your urgent reply.



Regards,



Ms.Princess Vivian Atta.

Anti-fraud resources: