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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: "Publishers Clearing House (PCH)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.eventclaim@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2017 21:52:46 +0200
Subject: Dearly Beloved

Dearly Beloved,

Here writes Madam Rita Osborne, suffering from cancerous ailment. I am
married to Sir Williams Osborne an English man who is dead.When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of 10,000.000.00 (Ten Million Euro)
which were derived from his vast estates

I have decided to donate this fund to you, I do hope you would be able
to utilize this money for the said purpose just as I am going to instruct
herein.I want you to utilize the funds by creating a charity foundation called
WILLIAM OSBORNE FOUNDATION to assist widows and help accident victims
worldwide.Contact our family lawyer with this specified email address

Barrister.Mrs Karlina Herman(ESQ)
Email: bar.karlinaherman@gmail.com

Tell her that I have WILLED Ten Million Eur to you by quoting
my personal reference number-Law/chamber/solicitor/rt/osb/WILL/78bwf5200B

Remain blessed.
Your Sister,
Madam.Rita Osborne

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