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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: "Mrs. Louisa Wilson" <wilsonlouisa12@netscape.net>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 04:05:17 -0200
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST


Dearly Beloved,
Please do not be surprised as to how i got your email adress. I randomly
search on the internet to find you to help me.

I am Mrs. Louisa Wilson the wife of Mr. Harry Wilson, my husband worked
with the Chevron/Texaco in the U.A.E for twenty years before he died in the
year 2001.We were married for twenty-seven years without a child. My
Husband
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 our lord is
against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US $3.5M.
(Three Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) with a security firm in
Europe. Presently, this money is still with the firm and the management
just
wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to sign for the release of this
money or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it
on
my behalf if I can not come over.

Presently, I'm in a hospital in the U.A.E where I have been undergoing
treatment for esophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and
my
doctors have told me that I have only a few weeks to live. It is my last
wish to see this money distributed to charity organizations any where in
the
World.

Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my
illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge
responsibility
to any of them. Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me Stand and
collect the Funds from the Bank. I want a person that is God fearing that
will use this money to fund orphanages and widows propagating the word of
God and also assist the tsunami victims. You must understand the fact that,
my health condition would not permit me to handle this affair on my own and
it is based on this i decided to contact you. Before we proceed with the
execution of my will, i would want you to understand that, the trust which i
have bestowed upon you at this juncture is enormous and you must not take
undue advantage of this.

Be informed at this juncture that, this project is 100% risk free
provided you adhere strictly to my instructions at every given point in
time.

I want you to understand that, i have been cheated in the past by my
relatives in whom i confided to help me distribute my assets and this
time around, i would not want a situation whereby you do not use this fund
for the actual purpose it is meant for.

I don't need any telephone communication in
this regard Because of my soundless voice and presence of my husband's
relatives around me always and i don't want them to know about this
development.
Beloved one,i am seriously counting on your support to reach out to the
less privilledge which is my utmost desire.

You are therefore required to reassure me of your seriousness by
furnishing me with the following details;

1. Your legitimate name
2. Your contact address
3. Your telephone number(cell if any)
4. Your fax number
5. Your area of specialization
6. Your Age

On receipt of the above information, I shall immediately provide you
with further details on how to claim the funds from the finance company
Please send all emails to: louisawilson12@netscape.net

I wait your urgent response
Louisa Wilson
N:B
I have set aside 10% of the total sum of $3.5m for you to compensate you
for your assistance on this project. I will like you to put into
consideration that the 10% I have set aside to compensate you should not be
your primary goal or interest, but your interest should be for that of the
less privilege and the said foundation.


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