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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:01:38 +0000
Subject: Greeting From Mrs. Sharon Lytle,


Greeting From Mrs. Sharon Lytle,

May I use this medium to request your assistance into a relationship of high
mutual trust and confidence with you. This proposal appears wonderful, but I
had to do this and affect lives in fulfillment of my will.

I am a retired regional Controller of Customs. I have been diagnosed with
kidney Cancer a Disease that has defiled all forms of medical treatment,
destroying my heart and kidney. My doctor's report indicates that I have
only few months to live under this earth. In my years of service in the
custom, I used my position to receive kickbacks from smugglers and business
people seeking favors from me, as well as conversion of confiscated goods to
my personal property.

This fund, a total of Forty Five Million United States Dollars, is presently
deposited in a bank under a confidential trust. Now under my present
condition, I have asked God for forgiveness and in my integrity I have
decided to donate this ill-gotten wealth to charity through you to affect
the lives of the less privileged children of the world.

Forgive me if you see my communication as a shameful act and not honorable,
for acquiring so much wealth as a public officer, but kindly excuse me and
understand the situation as I must find a credible and trustworthy
personality in this mission to fulfill my commitments to affect lives. I
want you to receive this money on trust, after which you will receive 20%
for your support and then distribute 80% to charity. I have given my lawyer
all the documents that will facilitate the released of my funds to your bank
account for immediate execution of my Last Will. My health has deteriorated
real badly, that I cannot do this myself anymore.

My contacting you is divine and my faith is in God. More details will be
communicated to you once you indicate your interest to assist. Please,
confirm your readiness and willingness so that I will give you the contact
of my lawyer who will process the transfer of the funds to your account. I
will not contact anybody until I hear from you.

Reply me only on this email address:
sharonlytle6@yahoo.com.hk<../mc/compose?to=sharonlytle6@yahoo.com.hk>

God Bless You,
Mrs. Sharon Lytle

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