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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.Lynne G. Petrucci" <hanton@iprimus.com.au>
Reply-To: grace.petrucci@vp.pl
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2016 13:58:28 +0100
Subject: Dear,This is important to me.Please read my email and reply



--
Beloved,


I pray that my letter meets you well as i was led to contact you.My
honest desire and love for God and man led me towards this need to
locate a responsible person in order to achieve my last wish.Which is
also borders on the reason why i contacted you through this medium and i
would not like you to take offense owing to the fact that we have not
met before.I am Mrs Lynne G.Petrucci from Canada,wife to the late John
C. Petrucci,who died with my only son in a ghastly motor accident Six
years ago.My late husband and i were married for years before his sudden
demise.A weight i have carried for years.Coupled with the trauma of
undergoing cancer treatment for years now.My health has deteriorated and
the doctors are not confident i will live to see the next two months
which is heartbreaking for me.I decided to sell off all my inherited
properties in the USA and whatever belonging i could lay hands which
amounted to $7.5Million now deposited in a joint account i have with my
late husband in a bank.I took this decision because i do not trust my
late husband's surviving brothers who have a record of criminal
behaviors and have being jailed for various criminal offenses.They are
waiting for me to die so that they can come and inherit my money.They
have not shown any concern regarding my deteriorating health.They are
bitter that i inherited my late husbands money and they want a portion
of it.I will not allow such bitter minds inherit my money.I rather give
it out to charity and the work of God.

I have decided after praying and my spirit is strong about this decision
to donate this money to charity.To be given to orphanages and used to
improve the life's of those suffering from cancer and expansion of the
word of the Lord.I saw your profile and i prayed over it that the Lord
show me signs that you a trustworthy person and He did.I decided to
contact you seeking that you stand as my next of kin to receive this
funds and give it to orphanages,old people's home and more.I want you to
stand as my next of kin and beneficiary of my inheritance funds,to make
sure that the funds is distributed to charity.I will give you 20% of my
inheritance fund if you will assist me with this project.

I have discussed this with my Attorney and he is willing to assist in
the distribution of the money to charity.I feel i have fought a good
fight and my soul is now at peace and i am no longer afraid to die.I
would have loved to speak with you on the phone but,i can't because of
my health condition and the doctor frowns at it.Please reply my email
and let me know if you will assist me.I have already discussed this with
my Attorney.I will provide you his details once you indicate your
interest to assist me with this project.

I await your reply.

God Bless you,

Best Regards,
Mrs Grace L. Petrucci

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