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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: Mary Mbakwe <mary.marymbakwe@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:46:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Mrs Mary,


Dearest one in christ,
My name is Mrs. Mary Mbakwe a white woman but married a African, i am 59 years old deaf woman aging widow suffering from long time illness for diagnosed for cancer about 3 years ago, the  doctor says i have a short time to live that it is by  miracle that i'm still alive  I  have no  kids my hubby is dead i do not have any relations but been directed by the LORD to inform you of his WILL to have you as his servant I have some funds inherited from my late husband, the sum of US$12,500.000.00 and i needed a very honest and God fearing Christian that will use the funds for God's work, motherless home,charitable funding or deaf, i found your email address from the Internet and decided to contact you.
 
But knowing that if  anything happens to me this wealth will be impounded by  the bank.
After i prayed about the whole issue and cried  for so long he gave me a vision of faith in my dream and  when i woke up i had my bible by my side opened to  Leviticus 5:15 : which says "If any one commits a breach  of  faith and sins unwittingly in any of the holy things  of the LORD or defy the lord's command , he shall bring,  as his guilt offering to the
 
LORD a ram without blemish  out of the flock, valued by you in shekels of silver, 
According to the shekel of the sanctuary; it is a guilt  offering.i prayed to the LORD to put me through to the  right path, Who then led me to you in a miraculous way. Please if you would be able to use the funds for the Lord work, kindly reply for further details. Please kindly reply i will be very glad to hear from you. marymbakwe41@yahoo.com
Your sincerely
Mrs Mary Mbakwe




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