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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: Sylvia Jimmy <grandhyco@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <sylvia19911@voila.fr>
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 12:14:47 +0000
Subject: please help me




Dearest
I am writing this mail to you with heart full of tears and
sorrow, I know that this mail might come to you as a surprise because
you don't know me and I also do not know you but I believe in God that
you will not fail me because I did not contact you by my power as I
prayed that God will touch your
heart and give you the grace to help me.

My
name is Miss. Sylvia Jimmy, I am 20 years old Medical student in
University of Sudan , I am the only child of my father of a blessed
memory by name Late Mr. Jimmy Lemi Milla was the rural development
minister in Sudan . You can read more about my father death in the BBC
news below website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12403620

My
late father was killed by his driver whom was paid by unknown people to
assailant my family but he succeeded in killing my father and the
shocked death of my father leads to my mother death after 3 days of
father's death. May they soul rest
in perfect peace, AMEN.

I
am actually in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me
relocate to his country for a better life as I was advised by my late
mother, I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe you
will not betray me now that you have known my life story. Meanwhile, 2
days later after my father's death my mother gave me the information for
the secret deposit them made with a bank in Burkina-Faso. The deposit
value is US$4.5 Million US Dollars only and I am presently in
Burkina-Faso where my late parent's made the deposit and I have gone to
the bank to confirm the deposit and establish ownership, please I need
your assistance urgently in moving this fund to your country for
investment and also help me relocate to your country, when my
inheritance is properly secured you will have 20% of the value for your
assistance.

I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to
handle
this transaction sincerely so that I will visit the bank to submit your
account and instruct them to transfer the money to you immediately
because I want to leave this refugee camp as soon as possible, life here
to me is a hell, no love, no affection and no amenities, more
importantly, I love my studies and here nothing is happening and people
here are not friendly,I am really suffering in this place, it is too
painful, but I hope with your help to transfer the fund in your account,
I will have a better life to live so kindly let me know your readiness
to help me and I promise to always be nice and faithful. I am waiting
your urgent and positive response.

Please do keep this only to
yourself please i beg you not to disclose it to anybody because I do not
want to be noticed for security reasons. With due respect, I am
pleading that you help me, i am giving all this detail information with
every transparency believing that you will have a
clear picture of
the base of help i need from you and I hope you will not refuse to help
me. I hope to hear from you immediately because I am suffering so much
here and wish to leave as soon as possible. May truth and love be the
guiding word in my refuge in you dear helper.
Ms. Sylvia Jimmy

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