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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: caroline010@hotmail.co.uk <carolineh1951@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:43:56 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Hoping To Read From You

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain

Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:26:28 +0200 (CEST)
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

=0D
PRAISE GOD, THE MOST BENEVOLENT.=0D
=0D
I am MRS caroline Haroun. from Kuwait. I am married=0D
to Late Windy Black of blessed memory who worked with=0D
Kuwait Embassy in Sudan and Benin Republic for Twelve=0D
years before he died in the year 2000. We were married=0D
for eighteen years without a child. He died after a=0D
brief illness that lasted for only four days. After=0D
his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child=0D
outside my matrimonial home. =0D
=0D
Since 4 years after his death, i have been battling=0D
with both cancer and fibroid problems. When my late=0D
husband was alive, he deposited the sum of=0D
$7.6Million (Seven Million six hundred thousand U.S.=0D
Dollars) with a bank and till date this money is still=0D
with the bank. Recently, my Doctor told me that I=0D
would not last for the next three months due to cancer=0D
problem. =0D
=0D
Having known my condition I decided to donate this=0D
fund to either an organisation or a reliable=0D
individual in your person who shall utilize =0D
this money to better the lives of the less privileged.=0D
I want you to use this money in all sincerity to fund=0D
orphanages, widows and the =0D
destitutes.=0D
=0D
God's benevolence has encouraged me to take this bold=0D
step. I took this decision because I dont have any=0D
child that will inherit this money and =0D
my husband's relatives has been very hostile and=0D
unkind to me since after my husbands death. So I dont=0D
want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by=0D
them or be used in an unholy manner. =0D
=0D
Hence the reason for taking this bold decision, I know=0D
that after death I will be with God the most=0D
beneficient and merciful. I am not afraid =0D
of death hence I know where I am going.=0D
=0D
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the=0D
contacts of the bank. For legitimacy, I will also=0D
issue you a letter of authority Certificate of Will)=0D
that will prove you as the true beneficiary of this=0D
fund. =0D
=0D
Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing=0D
for another organisation or individual for this same=0D
purpose. Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest=0D
squarely on your shoulders. May the Almighty God=0D
continue to guide and protect you,please you can get back =0D
to me with this secured email id{caroline010@hotmail.co.uk} =0D
=0D
Regards, =0D
=0D
Mrs. caroline Haroun.=0D



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