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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: linda brown <christ.love8@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <lindabrownforchrist@yahoo.de>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:09:59 +0000
Subject: HELLO DEAR BELOVED ONE,



HELLO DEAR BELOVED ONE,
GREETINGS TO YOU IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.I AM MRS.LINDA BROWN. A WIDOW TO LATE JERRY BROWN. I AM 58 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST.FROM ALL INDICATIONS, MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON T LIVE MORE THAN 2 MONTHS ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH,I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS,SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE PART OF THIS
WEALTH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA,AMERICA,ASIA AND EUROPE.I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $12,000.000.00 USD STATES DOLLARS TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU NOTE THAT THIS FUND IS LYING DOWN AT A BANK IN NIGERIA. I WISH YOU CAN FOLLOW UP AND CLAIM IT FOR MY PURPOSE AND ACT AS I MAY ADVICE YOU. I AM SORRY IF YOU ARE EMBARRASSED BY MY MAIL BUT IF FOR ANY REASON YOU FIND THIS MAIL OFFENSIVE,YOU CAN IGNORE IT AND PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY.
I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOU WILL SURE BE UTILIZED FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I AWAIT URGENT REPLY.
YOURS IN CHRIST. MRS.LINDA BROWN

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