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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: "isabelarodriq@yahoo.it" <isabelarodriq@yahoo.it>
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:43:39 -0200
Subject: you are blessed.

From: Mrs. Isabela Rodrique's goodwill Projects.

Dear friend,

Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may
offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and
writing through this channel. I got your contact from a professional database
found in internet while searching for a reliable and honest person that will
be an anointed steward in a vision very dear to me.

I am Mrs. Isabela Rodrique person from Puerto Rico undergoing medical
treatment. I was married to Dr. Castillo Rodrique who was a gun runner
supplying arms and ammunition to warring factions in Africa before he died in
the year 2002. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after
a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Since his death I decided not
to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband
was alive he deposited the sum of 11.8 Million Pounds Starlings (Eleven
Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Pounds) with a Fiduciary company. Presently,
this money is still with the Fiduciary Company.

Recently, my doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months
due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my partial paralysis.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to an organization or
individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.
I want an organization or individual that will use this to fund, women and
youth groups, victims of war, environmental protection, charities, orphanages
and widows or properties for orphanage homes. It is said that blessed is the
hand that giveth.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money and as a part of restitution for the atrocities of my husband which I
tacitly supported. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in
an ungodly manner, hence 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 in the bosom of the Lord. If you consider yourself adequately equipped
morally and spiritually for this mission, please send me a brief memo of how
you intend to use the funds. Thank you and God bless.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Isabela Rodrique.

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