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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: "Diana Cardozo" <mrsdiana18@mobimail.mn>
Reply-To: mrsd_cardozo@sify.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:34:14 +0100
Subject: Dearly Beloved


Dearly Beloved,

I am Mrs. Diana Cardozo from São Tomé and Príncipe, I was married to the
late Mr. Richard Cardozo the CEO of RIDIA Oil Mining & Exploration, I am 58
years old, I am a suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which has
affected my talking & hearing. The cancer has reached a critical stage, so
my doctors have courageously advised me to indulge in Prayers as well
because it is clear that I would not live past the next two months. I was
raised in an orphanage, and was married to my late husband for twenty years
without a child.



My husband and I are true Christians so after his death I decided not to
re-marry, he died in a fatal motor accident which I know is political
motivated because of his venture in the new oil industry. I sold all my
inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of US$28,300,000.00 with a
Bank. Presently, the money is still with the bank, and I received a letter
from the management of the holding bank as the real depositor urging me to
come forward to receive the money after keeping it for such a long or rather
issue a letter of approval or power of attorney to somebody to receive it on
my behalf or the management will confiscate the funds. Frankly, I can not
come over as a result of my illness; I'm with my laptop in a hospital where
I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and
my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.


It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any Charitable
Organization of your choice and distributed each year among the Charity
organizations and Orphanages, so I want a good humanitarian to use this
money to fund Churches, Needy and Widows in São Tomé and Principe and your
country.I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to
take a bold step towards this issue, and I hope you will help see my last
wishes come true. As soon as I receive your reply I shall use the little
money I have for my drugs and medi-care to procure and issue you a letter of
authority which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds and
the contact of the Bank. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I
stated herein. I hope to hear from you soonest if you are willing to handle
this project

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Diana Cardozo

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