419 scam: grace laurent <gracelaurent18@gmail.com> URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED PLEASE

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- grac.laurent@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: grace laurent <gracelaurent18@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 03:47:25 +0100
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED PLEASE

--
Hello,
I am Mrs. Grace Laurent Gbabgo, one of the wives of Mr. Laurent Gbabgo
formal president of Ivory Coast who is now detailed after been removed by
Mr. Alassane Ouattara the current president of Ivory Coast. I am soliciting
for your assistance to transfer and invest the sum of 23,000,000.00
(Twenty-three million Euros) he deposited with a security company in my
name six months before he was overthrew.
I want this funds transferred out of Africa before the current government
know about it because if they do, they will surely seize the funds as the
current president is not in good tense with my husband. I solidly need you
to help me transfer and invest these funds in a business in your name. But
please do not betray me, I am contacting you because I do not have another
choice, so please help me sincerely, 50% of everything will be yours.
Please reach me at grac.laurent@hotmail.com , I will give you more details
as soon as I hear from you.
I am waiting anxiously for your responses.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Grace Gbagbo.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam