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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: "mrs.teressaedward" <mrs.teressaedward@orange.nl>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:55:38 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Dear Beloved One,


Dear Beloved One,
In a brief, I am Mrs Teressa Stevens, Wife of late Mr Stevens James, a white farmer, murdered by unknown
assailants 2003 in Zimbabwe.My husband was a white farmer in Zimbabwe who was
brutally murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe by the agents of the ruling government of President
ROBERT MUGABE for his alleged support and sympathy for the opposition MDC PARTY led by the minority white
farmers. My husband was among the few white rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the war veterans
backed by the government. Before the death of my husband, he deposit the sum of US$9.5M (Nine Million
Five hundred thousand United State Dollars) with one of the Financial Institution, as if he knew the
looming danger in ZIMBABWE. We were married for twelve years.

Presently this money is still with the Financial Institution. Recently, my Doctor told me that I might
not last for the next Eight months due to an inflammation of my liver. This has led to my being on
24 hours intensive care, in a private clinic here in Cotonou Rep. of Benin. I am tired of living like this.

I have decided to donate part of this fund to an individual, group or a charity organisation that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want an individual, or Charity Organisation
that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, and helping land mine victims worldwide.
I took this decision because my husband's relatives are Trouble Makers and I don't want my husband's
efforts to be used for trivialities I do not want a situation where my husband's sweat will be used in
material pursuits. This is why I am taking this decision. Please ensure to contact me through this address
teressastevens@voila.fr immediately to enable
me direct you to the Man of God who has delibrately devoted his time for prayers and morale support to see
that I survived. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing
another person for this same purpose. Please assure me
that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

Hope to receive your reply.

Remain blessed.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Teressa Stevens.

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