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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: "MRANDIA IBRAHIM COULIBALY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mribrahimokoko2000@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 05:34:38 -0600
Subject: Re: SERIOUS OFFER TO YOU!

Greetings to you,
 
Please use this money for the services of humanity and to the less Privileged in the world. I received your information from online directory of your country where I deemed fit for this work which made to decide to seek your help in carrying out my last wishes. My name is Mrs. Mrandia Ibrahim Coulibaly. My late brother was a Warlord in CIV popularly known as "IB" Ibrahim "IB" Coulibaly I'm a 50 year old woman and a farmer and I owned a cocoa farm; I was also married with a kid but my husband and children were killed during the civil war by FRCI," Republican Forces of Ivory Coast before the killed my brother.
 
Website:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/28/ivory-coast-renegade-warlord-ibrahim-coulibaly
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13227665
 
Before this happened, my farm was doing greatly well. Since after the death of my brother and family, I decided not to remarry or adopt because I don’t want to put their lives in danger. When my late brother was alive he deposited a trunk box with the sum of 3.7m Euros. Three Million Seven Hundred Thousand euros in a Security Company here in Abidjan as family valuables but during the war the Security Company moved to Ghana.
 
Recently, my doctor told me to start arranging my WILL because I am suffering from series of illnesses caused by heart broke, fear, pains and lung cancer and these gives me real threat and without being told I know my days are numbered because right now I can barely talk what someone can understood well. My life insurance policy is taking care of my hospital bills. I am prompted to move out the money to you because I do not know what tomorrow might bring to me. The fact remains that the Security Company Directors know the history of the box deposited and if anything should happen to me they will take the money because no one will come for it. So I thoroughly made this research and find your information as a helping hand God has chosen to do this job.
 
Please send these details of yours such as your address, telephone number, occupation and age, so that I will present you to the Security Company as my partner whom I will want the Company to transport this box to you.
 
Thank you
Mrs. Mrandia Ibrahim Coulibaly
mribrahimokoko2000@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: