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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: Michael Gbagbo <micheal.gbagbo@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:58:56 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,

Please, however strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as we have not meet personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense benefit. However, this is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor 
against your will.

I am Mr Michael Ggbagbo a son to the former Ivory Coast President Laurent Ggbagbo .

Because of the political pressure and crisis My family is currently facing a problem from the United Nations now as a result of the November 2010 Presidential Election here in Ivory Coast.

I have decided to honestly confide in you with the instruction given to me by father , after his was arrested, to seek for the co-operation of a neutral and Reputable person to receive the sum of $25 million GBP  which he deposited with a Private Security Company  in London, United Kingdom.
I am contacting you now based on confidence and trust I have for you to assist me In this timely project and I wait you’re sincere and genuine considerations to this proposal to enable me give you further information regarding this Fund and the arrangement.

Note: Kindly keep this proposal as top secret and Confidential until it is successfully concluded due to our family name to avoid confiscation of the fund from the UN.

You urgent assistant is needed upon your acceptance to carry out this transaction.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Ggbagbo

Anti-fraud resources: