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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: "Mrs Maria Fred" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmariafred4@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:04:37 +0100
Subject: Re: How Are You Doing Today....From Mrs. Maria Fred. ===

>From Mrs. Maria A. Fred

CAN I TRUST YOU TO ASSIST ME.?

Attn:

I am the above named person from United Kingdom but a Citizen of America, now under going medical treatment in London,England. I am married to Mr. Arman Fred who own Fred International Fisheries under the United State High Commission in U.K, for over a decade before he died on 5th of June 2009. We were married for fifteen years. He died after a brief illness that lasted for three weeks.

Before his death he made a vow to establish his Fishing Company over the country for the down trodden and the less privileged in india/Asia society. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home due to our tradition.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $11Million(Eleven Million United State Dollar) in a Vault with a Natwest Bank In United Kingdom,presently this money is still there.

But i am undergoing treatment in London-England due to Heart Cancer and the Company has been close and sold due to lack of management last Month. Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 26 days due to cancer
problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I decided to contact you, who will utilize this money and assist me. As soon as I receive your reply through my private E-mail Address stating the below information, I shall give you the contact of my Lawyer, who will assist you in this transaction and also the Paying Bank. I want you to always pray for me. My happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation.

Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for an individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act according to my specification herein.

I would be glad if you could send the following informations;
(1) Full Names, (2) Residential Address,(3)Phone number,(4)Occupation, (5)Age and(6) country and also your Passport I.D or International I.D

And send the information to my Private Email: mrsmariafred4@gmail.com,and note that as soon as i receive your email i will send you the Deposit Certificate and some other transfer documents of my Late Husband for your record And also file an application to the bank with your informations for the process of this transaction. Note that this transaction is 100% Legal and Real.

Thank you and Hope to hear from you. And Note that this is not a Scam or Fraudulent email, if you can not assist me, please do not reply back, because i am not here for Joke.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Maria A. Fred

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