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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: "james lurman" <express_mailpost@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2005 03:04:22 +0000
Subject: CAN YOU HANDLE THIS


Dearest Beloved,
 
Hello my dear friend, Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and writing through this channel.I got your contact from a proffesional database found in internet while searching for a reliable and honest person that will assist us safeguard fund into an account.I was divinely inspired to pick your name among other names found in the database after series of prayers/fasting for Gods direction.
 
I am Mrs.Luz Stella Castillo Taborda. person from Colombia undergoing medical treatment. I am married to Dr. Castillo Tarboda who worked with Malaysia embassy in South Africa for nine years before he died in the year 2000.We were 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 born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of$7.2Million (seven Million two hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) with one finance/security company. Presently,this money is still with the Security Company.Recently,my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem.Though what disturbs me most is my partial paralysis .Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church/mosque or better still a Christian/Moslem individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.I want an individual that will use this money to fund churches/Mosque,orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. They said blessed is the hand that giveth.
 
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be mis-used by unbelievers.I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner,hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom.If you will be of assistance, I will surely appreciate and thank you for your kindness in giving me this help. Waiting for your urgent response.
 
Thank you and God bless.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Luz Stella Castillo Taborda.
 
N.B:Please send your response to my personal aide at,
JAMES LURMAN
jameslurman@yahoo.co.uk

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