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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:
Reply-To: <mariadonson@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 05:09:37 +0000
Subject: Happy sunday


Hello dear,

It is good writing you today although we haven't known nor met each other
before. It is true that this letter may come to you as a surprise.
Nevertheless, I humbly ask you to give me the benefit of doubt and hear me
out.

My name is Maria Donson. I am married to Mr. Francois Kadem Donson who
Based in in Ivory Coast ( Cote D'ivoire ) as an Investor for a period of 19
years before he died . We were married for 12 years without a child. He
died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.

Since his death I decided not to remarry due to my religious belief. When
my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$11,000,000 (eleven
million American dollars ) with a Bank in Cote D'ivoire. Presently this
money is still in the custody of the Bank in Cote
D'ivoire. Recently, my Doctor told me that I might not live for more than
Eight months more due to my cancer illness.

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to an organisation
or good person that will utilise this money the way I am going to instruct
herein.

I want the organisation or good person that will use this funds to help the
orphans, widows and other people that need financial assistance. Using part
of this money to build companies and establish businesses that will create
job opportunities for the jobless population. l took this decision because
I don't have any child that will inherit this money . Moreover, my husband
relatives are pagans and it had been their wish to see my husband dead in
order to inherit his wealth since we have no son. These people are
therefore not worthy of this inheritance. This is why I am taking this
decision.

I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my
ill-health since my husband's relatives are around me always. I don't want
them to know about this development for security reasons.

As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the Bank in
Cote d'ivoire where this fund is deposited. I will also issue a letter of
authorisation to the bank that will prove you the appropriate beneficiary
of this money. I also want you to always remember me in your prayers.

Any delay in your reply may give me room to search for another good person
for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I
stated herein.

Hoping to receive your response soonest.

May GOD bless you for all you do in His name.


Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Maria Donson

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