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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. Mirabelle" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmir.cooper@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2017 16:25:53 -0700
Subject: PLEASE Help me do my wish.

I am  Mirabelle Cooper  from Philippine. I am married to Engineer. Jose lee Cooper, a native of your country who worked with Oil company in Kuwait for Fifteen years, before he died in the year 2010.We were both married for eleven years without a child.He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both  Christians. Since his death I  decided not to re-marry or get a child outside. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $15.2Million 
(Fifteen Million two hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) with a finance/security company in Europe. Presently, this money is  still with the Security Company in Europe for safe keeping. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next  three months due to my cancer problem.
 
Though what disturbs me most is my Cancer sickness. Having known my condition of health I have decided to donate this fund  to churches, orphanage, Mosque, or a better Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct  here . I want an individual that will use these fund to help churches, orphanages and widows propagating the charity work.  I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money. I don't want my husband's hard earned 
money to be misused.
 
  I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Finance/ Security Company in Europe. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will  prove you as the original- beneficiary of this said fund. I want you and the church to always pray for me. Note That you  will have 40% of the total sum and 10% will be for the Expenses made during this transaction. Any delay in your reply  will give me room in sourcing for a church or Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will  act accordingly as I stated here.
 
 
Thanks,
 
Mrs. Mirabelle Cooper.

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