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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: "FROM:MRS JANE SMITH" <mrsjane_smith47@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrsjane_smith1958@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:44:22 +0000
Subject: RE:I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE

Good-day,
Permit me to introduce myself to you,I am Mrs. Jane Smith, 47years of Age, a disable widow from United Kingdom.My disability occured as a result of the bomb attack of 7/7/2005 in london which affect my hearing as a result of injuries i sustained that affects my ear drum.I got your contact through the webmail directory.
I have the sum of money £2,500,000.00p( Two million, five hundred thousand pounds) I want to invest in your Country/Company, This money was deposited in favour of my only son as the beneficiary to the fund with a Security/finance Company by my late husband who died during the recent bomb attack here in London, due to his death, I decided to look for someone who will assist me and my son in investing this money on a lucrative investment outside united kingdom as we have intention of relocating out of united kingdom.
I am seeking your assistance to help me and my son in investing this fund in your country through your business acumen once you receive this fund from the Security/finance Company as a Relation to my late husband as my late husband was until his death the only surviving child of his parents. this assistance is to enable my 8 years old son have a sound Education and start up his life with the investment when he attains the age of 20years, since the security/finance company say that he is too young to handle such amount that I should inform my husband relation to come for the release of the fund, since I have decided to leave London with my son in other to save our lifes as a result of the insecurity and always threat of bomb attack.
If you accepts the investment proposal i will be willing to offer you 20% in any investment that you will help us to invest the money in.
Please your assistance and understanding will be highly appreciated. I will be looking forward to hear from you.
Please indicate your telephone and fax number for further discussion/ clarification.
Please send your reply to my private/confidential email address:
mrsjane_smith1958@hotmail.co.uk
Regards,
Mrs. Jane Smith


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