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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: cathalena johnson <cathalena317@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2023 00:42:03 +0100
Subject: please i need your help

My Name is Miss Cathalena
I am a 23 years old girl an origin of Ivory Coast, and Ivoirienne Citizen
(Ivory Coast). I live in Ivory Coast with my father for ages before
his sudden death. My late father was a wealthy international
businessman, he deal on Cocoa and Timber export until his death.
I lost my mother when i was 3 year old. i do not know my Mom, except
only on photos, Am the only daughter of my parents, Please i need your
help to receive my inheritance fund $ 25 million USD which my late
father deposited in a finance firm here but registered for foreign
investment since the year 2018 before his sudden death.

I have all the documents that covers the fund in the bank and i am the
next of kin to the deposit fund. Dear, i promise to give you %30 of
the total sum for your assistance as soon as this fund arrive to your
country under your care for my schooling and investment purpose over
there. Please if you can be willing to help me receive this amount,
kindly reply me for more details.

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