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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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Fraud email example:

From: "PATRICIA BANKS" <patriciabanks05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: patriciabanks@she.com
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:53:46 -0600
Subject: Pay Attention

Mrs. Patricia Banks

EMAIL: Patriciabanks@she.com

Dear Sir,

I am the above named person from Malaysia but now undergoing medical
treatment .I am married to Dr. John Banks, who worked with Malaysia embassy
in Iraq for nine years before he died in the year 2000. We were married for
eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for
only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since
his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial
home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited
the sum of $20 Million ( Twenty Million U.S. Dollars) with one
Finance/Security Company in Europe.

Presently, this money is still with the Security Company. Recently, my
Doctor told me that I would not last for the next couple of months due to
cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my
condition I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a
Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct here in.

I want a church or individual that will use this to fund churches,
orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the
house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is
the hand that giveths. I took this decision because I don’t have any child
that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and
I don’t want my husband’s hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I
don’t want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner,
hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I don’t need any
telephone communication in this regard because of my health and because of
the presence of my husband’s relatives around me always. I don’t want them
to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as
I receive your reply I shall give you the directive on how to lay claims
with the authorization document on my behalf in Europe.

I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my
shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.

I will not contact another person or organization until I hear from you.

Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.

Yours truly,

Mrs. Patricia Banks


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