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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Mary Ahmed." <mary-ahmed@zwallet.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: maryahmed01@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 19:32:54 +0100
Subject: Urgent Need.

Mrs.Mary Ahmed.
Madrid-Spain.


Your Sister in the Lord,

I am Mrs.Mary Ahmed, I am married to Mr.Usman Ahmed of blessed memory who worked with Saudi Arabia Embassy here in Madrid Spain for nine years before his untimely death in the year 2002 after a brief illness.

We were married for eleven years without a child, he died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, he was an unbeliever(though very loving) and I am a devouted christian by birth with both cancer and fibroid problems.

When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of $14.6 Million United states Dollar(Fourteen Million
Six hundred thousand United States dollars) in a trunk box with a finance and security firm here in Spain. Presently, this money is still with a Finance and Security firm.

Recently my doctor told me that the cancer illness is getting to a terminating stage which could be any moment from four months. Having known my condition, I decided to donate this fund to either achristian
organisation or a trustworthy individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here-in. I want this christian organisation or
individual to use this money in all sincerelity to fund churches,orphanages, widows, cancer research and to ensure that the society upholds the views and believes of the almighty.

The holy bible emphasized so much on the giving of arms, charity and this has encouraged me in taking this bold step. I took this decision because I don’t have any child to start from and were I will stop and my husband’s relations are all unbelievers, I

don’t want my husband’s hard earned money to be mis-used by unbelievers and people who holds different philosophy about life. I don’t want a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner, thereby
contradicting the reason for taking this bold decision. I know that after death, I will be with God the most high and the most merciful.

With God, I know that all things are possible and as soon as I receive your reply, I will direct you on how to receive the consignment at the finance and security firm. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original beneficiary of the funds. I want you and the christian community where you reside to always pray for me.

My happiness is that I lived a life of a true devoted christian though married to an unbeliever, but anyone that wants to serve God must serve him in truth and in spirit, please always be prayerful for me.

Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another organisation or a devoted individual for the same purpose. Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders. May the almighty
God continue to guide and protect you. Amen. Please reply to this e-mail:mary-ahmed@zwallet.com

Yours faithfully and Sister in Christ.

Mrs.Mary Ahmed.





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