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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: OFFICIAL FILE <officialfile2015@gmail.com>
Reply-To: OFFICIAL FILE <maryedward74@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2015 20:19:38 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Yours in the lord.


Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am
Mrs. Mary Edward, a widow to Late Mr. Johnson Edward. I am 74years old now a
new Christian converts suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all
indications my condition is really deteriorating and it’s quite obvious that I
won’t live more than next two months according to my doctors. This is because
the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband was killed
during the Earthquake resulting to the Tsunami Incident in Indonesian, and
during the period of our marriage we did not produce any child. My late husband
was an Oil merchant and very wealthy, after his death, I inherited all his
business and wealth.
 
I selected you after visiting the Directory in search
of a reliable Church or a True God Fearing person whom God will guide me to
trust. Though, I choose to reach you through Email, because it remains the
fastest medium of communication and I prayed over it, I am willing to donate
the sum of 6.5M (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to you, for you to
help me distribute to less privileges in your country.

I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and
extended family members, as well as a few close friends. I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul. Now, I have decided to give also to less
privilege in Africa, Asia and America. As I want this to be one of the last
good deeds I do on earth. You may be wondering how I come to trust you, I want
you to know and believe one thing that the Spirit of God guides me to contact
you and the Spirit of God can never lie, Because God knows that you can handle
this. Please I want you to note that, you will give me assurance that as soon
as you receive the money, you will distribute 40% to the less privileges around
you, you will use 50% to build Charity Organization home which will be named
after me, while you will use the remaining 10% for yourself. I deposited the Money
with Security Company in Benin Republic West Africa with open next of kin, upon
my instructions; you will file in an application for the claim of the money in
your name.


 
If you can be able to use the funds for the Lord’s
work; kindly reply me.
 
Yours in the lord.
Mrs. Mary Edward.

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