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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. Malissa Pointer" <malissapointer@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 20:44:00 +0000
Subject: From Malissa

Dearly Beloved

It is by faith I send you this Letter, having known the truth, I have no
choice than to do what is lawful and right.

By way of introduction I am Mrs. Malissa Pointer the wife of Mr. Harry
Pointer.My husband worked in his life time with the Chevron / Texaco in
Kenya for Fifteen years before he died in the year 2001. We were married for
ten years without a child. My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted
for only four days.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a Child outside my
matrimonial home which my
religion is against and i am personally against. When my late husband was
alive he deposited the sum of US $9.5M. (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand
U.S. Dollars) with a Security company in Europe.The funds where deposited as
family valuables / treasures for security reasons. Hence they are not aware
of the real contents of the consignment.

Presently, I'm in a hospital in Kenya where I have been undergoing treatment
for esophageal
cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me
that I have only a few weeks to live. It is my last wish to see this money
distributed to charity organizations any where in the World. Because
relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness,
I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any
of them for personal reasons.

I ask you to Stand and collect the Funds from the security company. I want a
person that is responsible and with outright honour who would use this money
to fund orphanages, widows and the physically challanged. It is said that
blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have
any child that will inherit this money.I am not afraid of death hence I know
where I am going after death.

I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my
soundless voice and resence of my husband's relatives around me always just
for the fact that they want to lay claims to the funds they know nothing
about.I don't want them to know about this development. As soon as I receive
your reply I shall give you the contact of a representative who is in Europe
as he will be the one to assist you in laying claims for these funds. Do
write to my private email malissapointer@uk2.net so i could brief you on
what to be done in full.



Yours Ever.
Malissa Pointer.


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