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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: Ethlyn Richards <ethlynrichards@mmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:04:33 +0100
Subject: Let us be merciful


Dear Sir/Madam,
I am very sorry to have sent you an unsolicited mail, but is so because i need your support for the support of the less priviledged.
My names are Mrs. Ethlyn Richards, an American married to Rev. Gordon H. Richards who worked with the America embassy in England. We were both married for 46years without children.
I do not intend to waste much of your time. I inherited a reasonable amount of money from my late husband that is in private deposit box in a security company in Ivory coast Abidjan which i intend to give out for charity purpose, but to a God fearing individual or firm that will receive and use the money to help ORPHANGES,WIDOWS and their likes. I am looking for someone that I can trust to handle this funds.
For health reasons, i am not very mobile. Given that i do not have a child and due to I and my late husbands commitment to give to charity works, i am committed to bring this singular wish alive before i pass on. Presently am in my husband personal property in abidjan ivory coast responding to treatment, as we have lived here for over 15years and my personnal physician is here too.
The truth is i know that based on what is going on all over the internet, people find it very difficult to assist one another but i assure you that as soon as you can garantee me of your trust and honestly i will be able to work with you. As soon as you get intouch with me i will give you the details on the way forward.
Please help me in bringing my dreams alive, as life for me is nothing without Harry.
I can be reached through my private email address below.
Email: ethlynrichards@hotmail.com
May you be richly blessed.
Yours beloved,
Mrs. Ethlyn Richards

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