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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: "Jean Brown" <jeanbrown_241@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jeanbrown_78@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:49:34 +0000
Subject: FOR HUMANITY




Dear Good friend,

I don’t really know who you are, but peace be unto you as you read this
letter. My Instinct tells me that I can trust you by my proposition. I got
your contact through Internet directory and My Instinct directed me to send
this money to you.

I am a widow and a devoted Christian, my name is MRS JEAN BROWN from UNITED
KINGDOM. Since my husband died, I have been suffering from arthritics and
lately doctors have diagnosed me with terminal cancer, which left me with
approximately twelve months to live. I am currently on wheelchair and being
looked after by a nurse and some of my late husband’s relatives in turns.
Before my husband died, he left some money to the tone of
USD$4,800,000,00(Four million, eight hundred thousand dollars) and he made
me promised him that it should be used for humanitarian work, because we
have no children and he does not want his brothers to lay hand on it, since
they don’t believe in God, they have a different vision.

This money is currently in a vault with a bank in EUROPE. If you will
promise me that you will use this money to achieve the wish of my husband
and me, then I will instruct the bank to release the content of the vault in
your name.

Reply me through my email address jeanbrown_78@yahoo.com.hk for us to
discuss so that you can go and claim this money before i die.

May God bless you as you walk in the light and glory?

Thank you.

Yours in Vineyard,

MRS JEAN BROWN

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