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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: "Mrs.Fidelia Hanks." <mrs.fideliahanks2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.fideliahanks@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:06:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I AM MRS. FIDELIA HANKS.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrs.fideliahanks2@yahoo.com



- MY DEAR, I AM MRS.FIDELIA HANKS, A CITIZEN OF NETHERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE FREDRICK HANKS. I AM 61 YEARS OLD, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WOULD NOT LIVE MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTOR AND FROM ALL INDICATION REGARDING TO MY MEDICAL ANALYSIS, THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE AFTER THE SERIES OF BREAST SURGERY CONDUCTED BY THE SPECIALIST. ALL THE EFFORTS MADE TO PUT A RESUSCITATIVE MEASURE WAS TO NO AVAIL, MY DOCTORS CONFIRMED THAT MY ENDENCY OF LASTING LONG IS NOT TRASPEREN. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD NOT GIVE BIRTH TO ANY CHILD. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS ASSETS. FOLLOWING TO MY PRESENT CONDITION, THE DOCTORS HAVE ADVISED ME THAT SINCE I DO NOT HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE,THAT I SHOULD BETTER NOW DECIDE WHAT I WILL DO WITH MY LATE HUSBAND'S PROCEEDS SO I NOW DECIDED TO SHARE SOME PART OF THIS PROCCEDS, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARITY IN AMERICA, AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE ESPECAILLY TO CREATE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE LESS PREVILLEGED AND ORPHANAGES.I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE I PRAYED FOR, I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $16,000.000.00 U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT THIS FUND IS LYING IN A FINANCE FIRM, AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION & LAWYERS' DIRECTIVE, WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FUND IN YOUR NAME.LASTLY,I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN RELEASED WILL BE USED FOR THE SAID PURPOSE EVEN THOUGH I MAY BE LATE THEN, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT GOODWILL TO HUMANITY IS VANITY AND I MADE THE PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT THE FUND WILL BE USED FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.AWAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU, MRS FIDELIA HANKS. C/O FAMILY LAWYER (QUARTEY DICKSON & ASSOCIATES INC.) QUARTEY DICKSON.


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