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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "mary brown" <marycollinsbrown@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 10:06:30 +0000
Subject: GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

HELLO DEAR,

GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS MARY COLLINS BROWN,A
WIDOW TO LATE TOM COLLINS I AM 61 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN
CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION
MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON’T
LIVE MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER
STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND KILLED DURING THE U.S.
RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE
WE COULD’NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS
DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME
THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE
PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN
AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA, AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE
AND I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $8,000.000.000.USD
STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND
IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON, AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY
ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IS IN LONDON WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR YOU FOR
THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME.LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS
MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE
COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE
GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I AWAIT URGENT REPLY.YOURS IN CHRIST.

MRS MARY COLLINS BROWN.


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