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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: Mrs Wendy Wood <wendy_wood95344@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <wendy_wood@o2.pl>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:18:01 +0100
Subject: Dear Good friend.



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. My Instinct directed me to send this money to you. I am a widow and a devoted christian, my name is Mrs Wendy Wood from UNITED KINGDONSince my husband died ,I have been suffering from arthritics and lately doctors have diagonised 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 US$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 doesn't 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 security company/bank in Europe . If you will promise me that you will use this money to achieve thewish of my husband and me,then I will instruct the security company/bank to release the content of the vault in your name.reply me through my email address wendy_wood65@myway.com 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 Wendy Wood
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