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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: linda koffi <lindakoffi28@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2015 12:45:32 +0000
Subject: My Good news To You

Greetings,

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you; I am giving
you my trust And wish you will give me back the trust i have given
you. I believe that you will be Honest to fulfill my final wish before
I will die.

I am Mrs. Linda Koffi from Cote D'Ivoire, I am 59 years old, I am
suffering from a long time Cancer of the breast. From all indication
my condition is really deteriorating, and my Doctors have courageously
advised me that I may not live beyond next month, this is Because the
cancer stage has reached a critical stage.

I was brought up in a Motherless baby’s home, and was married to my
late husband for twenty years Without a child. My husband and I are
true Christians, but quite unfortunately, he Died in a fatal motor
accident. Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my
inherited belongings and Deposited all the sum of US$8.200,000.00
(Eight million two hundred thousand united state dollars) with a
Financial Company.

Presently, this Money is still in their custody, and the management
just wrote me as the legitimate Depositor to inform me of the maturity
date of my deposit or rather issue a letter of Authorization to
somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a
Result of my illness, or they get it confiscated.

It is my last wish to see that this money is been invested into a very
good LUCRATIVE VENTURE of your choice that will be giving out proceeds
to be distributed each year Among the charity organization, the poor
and the motherless baby’s, orphanage Homes and widows around.

I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, But I had to
take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option.
I hope you will help me see that my last wishes come true. Please
kindly write me back soon for more details.

Your beloved sister,
Mrs. Linda Koffi.

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