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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: Sarah Nzi <sarahnzi2013@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2018 19:39:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I need your help please


Good day,
Permit me to inform you on my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your name and contact from the Ivorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trustworthy person I can do business with, and by their recommendations, I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business.       I am Sarah Nzi, the only daughter of Late Mr. and Mrs. Nzi. My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant based in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast before he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outing to discuss on a business deal. When my mother died on the 21 April 1998, my father took me so special because I was motherless.
Before the death of my father on the 7th May 2017 in a private hospital here in Abidjan. He secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has a sum of US$ 4,500,000.00 left in a suspense account in a local bank here in Abidjan. That he used my name as his only daughter for the next of kin in deposit of this fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his associates, that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as Real Estate Management.     
Sir, I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways,1) To provide a bank account where this money would be transferred.2) To serve as the guardian of this fund.3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort input after the successful transfer of this fund to your account.
Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within seven (7) days you signify interest to assist me.
Anticipating hearing from you.Kind regards,Miss Sarah Nzi

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