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Nigerian 419 Scam

Named after its Nigerian criminal code, the “419″ scam has circulated for years through snail mail, fax, and email. The US Secret Service, who refers to it as the Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud, has dedicated an entire section on its Financial Crimes Division page. It calls the crime a growing epidemic. This hoax email, which has too many variants, all appear to have been sent by a deposed African official or a relative of one. The email messages ask its recipients for assistance in transferring or handling a sizable sum of money, offering a corresponding share for such service. Click here to read more.

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