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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: Mrs Elisabeth George <mrselisabeth_12@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:32:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Mrs Elizabeth George

Mrs, Elizabeth George
ABIDJAN COTE D' IVOIRE
05 B.P 107 B.P 07 ABIDJAN.

With Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian ground. My name is Mrs Elizabeth George. from island, I am 58yrs old, I am married to late Engr. mark George who worked in oil company and also cocoa business export in Cote d'I voire. before he retired in
the year 2008. He died in the year 2011, after a Cadiac Arteries Operation

We were married for 21 years without a child. And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next six months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum Of $2.8.Million in one of the finance firm here in Abidjan capital of Cote d'Ivoire for safe keeping.
Presently this money is still in the Vault of the finance firm.Having known my condition I decided to hand over this money to an individual,Brother or sister that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

I want that you use this money according to the desire of my late.husband to help the Less
privilaged,orphanages,and propagating the word of God. I took this decision because I dont have any child that will inherit this money, And I dont want in away where this money will be used in an unGodly way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this money.

I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming Cancer Surgery.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I have Stated herein. Hope to receive your urgent reply.

Yours Sister,
Mrs Elizabeth George

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