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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS ERICA NZAMO" <mrsericaas36@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:15:44 +0100
Subject: FROM MRS ERICA.


Dear Friend,

I warm-heartedly make this contact with you on a positive note Anticipating
your kind consideration and co-operation,and plead for your time and
understanding in this. Firstly, my name is MRS ERICA NZAMO, I am the wife
of late MICHAEL NZAMO.My late husband MICHAEL NZAMO who was a very
successful business tycoon based here in Ghana was a Gold Miner and also the
chairman Executive MICHROYAL HOTEL, C.E.O NZAMO HOLDINGS and a host of other
companies died last month at the age of 56 years after a brief illness at
Kolebu Teaching Hospital here in Ghana. In our world today,such a manner of
approach may not be acceptable or very suspicious, as we do not know each
other and have not had any sort of communication in the past, but I urge you
to take my email very seriously, considering the situation. Could you
believe that the tradition and customs of the town and village where my late
husband came from demands that any woman who does not have a male child for
the husband, that when ever the husband dies, all the properties belonging
to the late husband including cash will be shared among the late husband
brothers and the woman will be sent out of her husband house for good. My
dear, this is exactly what I am going through right now since last month my
husband died. My late husband brothers has taken all the properties
belonging to my late husband including companies, bank accounts and as well
sent me and my little daughters out of my husband house just because I do
not have a male child for my late husband.


This is a wicked tradition and culture that has no moral value. As am
talking to you now, I and my two daughters are going through hell at the
moment. Right now, I am having in my position all the vital documents
relating to the sum of $5.5 million dollars and 60kgs of Gold which my late
husband deposited with a Storage company here in Ghana as a family treasure
with my name as the next of kin before his death. Last week I contacted the
manager of the Storage company and I was told that the consignment is very
much intact,that I can as well come for it any time I feel like.

Please remember that I cannot make use of this fund and this Gold here due
to forces surrounding me at the moment, I am regarded as a treat to my
husband brother and they have threatened to kill me. Please have mercy at
the poor widow like me and help me out of this mess.

All I want you to do for me is to assist me transfer this fund and this Gold
to your country immediately before my late husband brothers will have
knowledge of it and claim it just like the way they did to others. I
strongly believe that the only way I can secure this money and this gold for
myself is to act fast now and transfer this money and this Gold to your
country,that is the main reason why I am contacting you for your
assistance.Please note that, as soon as this fund and this Gold is
transferred to your country,you will stand the chance to have 20% percent of
the total fund while 80% percent will remain for me so that I can be able to
take care of my two kids my late husband left behind for me. Remember that
my children are the only happiness I have here on earth and I cannot stand
to watch them go through such pains. You will be greatly rewarded and be
entitled to a percentage of the proceeds from the any investments for
rendering me this most needed assistance.

I look forward to hearing from you immediately so that I can direct you
what next to do for us to commence the Transaction.

Sincerely,

MRS ERICA NZAMO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam