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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: "MARY JONES" <sistermaryjones02@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrsmaryjones22@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 08:26:27 +0000
Subject: IF YOU ARE LED BY THE RIGHT SPIRIT






From: Sister Mary Jones

Beloved,

Compliments of the day to you ! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologise for
my intrusion of your privacy. However, I have a serious concern with which I
believe you might be of help and for this reason, I can not but reach out to
someone - a fellow Brethren. My name as given above is Mary Jones, Liberian
and married to Saudi Arabian Diplomat Harry Jones. I and my husband have
been married for 12 years and has lived and worked around the world as
diplomats and worthy ambassadors of both nationalities, until his death to a
ghastly auto crash in 2003, shortly after his conversion from Muslim to
Christianity.

We were a dedicated Christians and decided to serve mankind to the best of
our ability.Since his death, I have lived with the memories, fighting
effortelessly to lead a normal life but all to no avail. I suffered mentally
and psychologically and shortly was diagnosed of Cancer. I lived with the
scourge praying earnestly for divine intervention. Just a month ago, the
doctor informed me that I have just about three months more to live. I was
not shocked. I accepted the news in good fate. Brethren, it is in this
regard that I write to you, having sourced your address from a database in
my late husband's internet dozier after fervent prayers. Before my husband
died, he deposited a sum of $5.5 Million (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) with a Finance/Security company. I have
wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety of this fund to any devoted
believer or organisation and to achieve this, I need a devoted Christian
individual that will utilize this funds adherently for these purposes:

1: For the propagation of the gospel
2: For the sick, less-privilledged and destitute
3: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c.

These are the wishes of a dying woman. They are the desires of my heart,
hence my decision as I do not have a child to take over my
inheritance.Please, understand that I am not doing this because of fear of
death as I am certain where my place already is. At this point, friends,
well wishers, and my husbands relatives are all clampered around me as I
sojourn in my hospital bed and are unaware of my plight, hence I will not be
able to make an open conversation. When I receive your response, I will
direct you at once to the Finance/Security Company. I will also empower you
with a letter of authority as the new beneficiary to this fund with all
neccessary documentation.

All I need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me that
you can in all honesty and obedience utilize the funds for the purpose with
which it is meant. In any a case, a quick response from you will be highly
appreciated as I am already on a count-down and may not have ample time to
finalize the procedures. Any delay in response may compel me to source for
other measures or perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy
to. Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbeliveable
opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist the
less priviledged in truth and in spirit with a substance.

I await your immediate response.

Thank You and Bless You richly!
Yours Sincerely
Mary Jones

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