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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "viv sal" <helpsalem2@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 00:19:07 +0100
Subject: Greetings!


My name is Mrs.Vivian Salem, wife of late Salem Nasim
in Iraq,One year ago, I lost my husband Nasim and
three children - Husam, 15 years old , Wasim, 12 years
old and Merna, 6years old, this happened when American
tank shelled our car as the family attempted to flee
heavy fighting in Baghdad
View the Website below for detailed story of how i
lost my family.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/04/vivians_story/html/1.stm
Before my husband and children were killed, he
deposited the sum of $8.5 million (Eight Million five
hundred thousand Dollars) in a bank. My Doctor told me
that I would not last for the next three months due to
illness. Having known my condition I decided to donate
this funds to a church or better still a God fearing
individual that will utilize this money the way I
am
going to instruct herein. I
want an individual that will use this fund for
orphanages and humanity
work. I took this decision because I don't have any
child
that will inherit this money and my husband relatives
are not Christians
and I don't want my husband´s hard earned money to be
misused by unbelievers. I don´t want a situation where
this money will be used in an
ungodly manner.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the
contact of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of
authority that
will empower you as the original- beneficiary of this
fund. Please assure
me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
This must be kept confidential from eyes and ears of
my husband's family.
Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks,
Mrs.Vivian Salem.
Please send ur reply to my personal e-mail
address:
salemviv44@gmail.com

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