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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 mike" <marymike_45@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 03:45:43 +0000
Subject: GOD BE WITH YOU.





BELOVED,

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS MARY MIKE FROM
SWITZERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE TOM MIKE I AM 55 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 CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.MY LATE HUSBAND DIED
LAST FIVE YEARS,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 $5,000.000.00U.USD( FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS
LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN NIGERIA. ONCE I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL FORWARD
TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS YOU WILL USE TO GET THIS FUND RELEASED FROM THE
SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT. I HONESTLY PRAY THAT
THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT 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 YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST.

MRS MARY MIKE


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