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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: "maryjoo Gazeta.pl" <maryjoo@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:23:12 -0700
Subject: From Mary Joo


Dearly Beloved,

Life itself is a misery and nobody can tell what can be of it. Those that
can tell what can be of it are those who cannot tell us because they are far
from us (dead). I want you to hear my story.

I am the above named person but now undergoing medical treatment for cancer
now. I am married to Dr. David Joo who worked with South Africa embassy in
Malaysia for nine years before he died in the year 2001. Well I will only
try to let you know who Dr. David Joo is by stating his philosophy of life.
Life is worth living only if lived to the service of mankind" and "You make
a living by what you earn, but you make life as by what you give? This will
give you an insight of the spirit behind what I believe and what I will live
for because he is my mentor.

To continue with my story, we were married for eleven years without a child.
He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his
death we have made something of and from life.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry or adopt a child, this is
basically my own decision to honor him for the love we shared and the life
we lived for. My late husband deposited the sum of £20.6M (twenty Million
six hundred thousand British pound sterling) with vaults holding company in
Europe before his death. Presently, this money is still with the firm.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months
due to cancer problem.

Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I
decided to donate this fund to a church, better still a Christian or a good
Muslim individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein. First you must emblem and live with my husband's
philosophy, as stated above. If you can't remember please I refer you to
read through from the introduction of this letter cause this the most
important aspect that you must uphold.

Secondly I want an organization or an individual that is God fearing who can
invest the money and continuously use the money to fund orphanages, widows,
the less privilege, the disabled and all those afflicted with strange
illness or diseases.

If these conditions are met I am not afraid of death for I know where I am
going to and my heart will rest in peace. I don't need any telephone
communication in this regard because of my health, for as soon as I receive
your reply I will refer you to the contact of the company in Europe and my
doctor who shall arrange you the letter of claim from the Malaysia High
Court of Justice. This will be done if I see from your response that you
satisfy the above conditions stated.

As I have stated my Doctor will issue you a letter of authority that will
empowers you as the original beneficiary of these funds (consignment). I
choose this means to locate you because I am sure I will be lead by a good
Spirit to the kind of person that will be honest. Delay in your reply will
not be of benefit to me due to my health condition and this will propel me
to search for someone else.

In the light of the above, your positive responses would be appreciated
through my personal email: joomary29@yahoo.it . Please assure me that you
will act accordingly as I stated herein.

Hope to hear from you.

In His Arms.

Mrs. Mary Joo
joomary29@yahoo.it

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