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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?Edwards=20Mrs=20Victoria?= <mrsvictoriaedwards1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:14:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND,


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gmrsvictoriaedwards1@yahoo.com.hk



- DEAR BELOVETH, I AM MRS VICTORIA, A WIDOW TO LATE GEORGE EDWARDS I AM 56 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AS I AM NOW AM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER 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T 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 SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I VISITING THE SITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT THAT GOD WILL DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE THAT IS GOD FEARING THAT WILL ASSIST ME TO CLAIM THIS MY FUND,I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $12M MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A BANK AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IN AFRICA DISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS TO VICTIMS OF BOMBLAST IN SIERRA-LEONE, WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME.LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT GOD IS VANITY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I AWAIT URGENT REPLY. GOD BLESS YOU, MRS.VICTORIA EDWARDS .


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