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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: "Madam Mary Vandouf" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m_madam@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:45:48 +0100
Subject: You are the Chosen one....Contact immediately for inheritance

Good day,


My name are Madam Mary Vandouf, My late husband
was into private practice all his life before his death.
Before his death, he deposited the sum of 10,000,000.00GBP
(Ten Million Great Britain Pound Sterling) to his local
bank account here in UK and South Africa.


Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in
addition to this cancer.

I want you to use this gift which come from my late husband
effort to assist the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans,
destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children,
barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely
handicapped financially as planned with my late husband before
his sudden death.


Be rest assured that I will sign the necessary Probate Documents
to make you the beneficiary. I will also ask a friend, hospital,
attendant, Mr. Makolo to discuss with you since I can no
longer talk or lost my vocal system to give you the details
and bank where the money was deposited to avoid delay in
transferring the money to you now that I am still alive. I am
presently in South African for some medical treatment.


Endeavor to send me your names, address, telephone and fax
number to enable contact you with more details/all the relevant
documents by email/ fax.

Feel free to call Mr. Makolo and ask any question regarding
this transaction at +27 785889966


Yours sincerely,
Madam Mary Vandouf.
Confidential return email: m_madam@yahoo.cn

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