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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Felicia Hines" <felicia_hines207@msn.com>
Reply-To: liciahines777uk@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:14:18 +0000
Subject: DEARLY BELOVED

From: Madam Felicia Hines.
4 Old Church Street,
Chelsea, SW3,
England.

Here writes Madam Felicia Hines, suffering from cancerous ailment. I am
married to Engineer Silas Hines an Englishman who is dead. My husband was
into private practice all his life before his death. Our life together as
man and wife lasted for three decades without child. My husband died after a
protracted illness. My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden
and the less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can
not help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.

I can adduce this to the fact that he needed a Child from this relationship,
which never came. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
2.45 Million (2.45 Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling) which were derived
from his vast estates and investment in capital market with his bank here in
UK.
Presently, this money is still with the Bank. Recently, my Doctor told me
that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am
suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in
addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family,
and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this
gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows,
widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged
children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped
financially.

It is often said that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision
because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband
relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not want my
husband’s hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill perceived
ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be used in an
ungodly manner, henc e 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
with the Almighty when I eventually pass on. The Almighty will fight my case
and I shall hold my peace. I do not need any telephone communication in this
regard due to my deteriorating health and because of the presence of my
husband’s relatives around me. I do not want them to know about this
development. With God all things are possible.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in
UK. I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the
original beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I lived a life
worthy of emulation. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein. Hope to
hear from you soon and God bless you and members of your family.you can
contact me through my private email address: liciahines777uk@yahoo.co.uk

Madam Felicia Hines.


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