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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: toreth hughes <toreth06@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <torethhughes20@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:18:43 -0400
Subject: Dearly Beloved



Lady Toreth Hughes52 Oxford Street, England.

Here writes Lady Toreth Hughes, suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Sir Richard Hughes an Englishman who is dead. My husband was into private practice all his life before his death. Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without child, My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of £20 Million which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market with his bank here in UK. Presently, this money is still with the bank.

Recently, my doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift to fund the upkeep of widowers, orphans, the down-trodden, and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially.

I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill perceived ventures. I do not need any telephone communication in this regard due to my deteriorating health. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in UK.

I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary of this money. Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein, hope to hear from you soon.

torethhughes20@yahoo.co.uk
Lady Toreth Hughes
_________________________________________________________________
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