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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: "Craig Anderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andersoncraig73@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:06:24 +0100
Subject: I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO READ THIS EMAIL..

Greetings in the name of God

Please let this not sound strange to you but,i prayed and got your email address from www.spock.com .I'm single,30 years old and a construction Engineer by Education.I have lived 4 different countries namely switzerland,kenya,south africa and the United State due to the Nature of my Mother's Job when she was still with the United Nation's Government.She now lives in the Western Part of africa(Nigeria) where she owns a motherless baby home.By the Infinite mercy of God I will be flying to were she is because she has called for my presence since she is now suffering from a cancerous lungs and this has affected her voice box so she is presently deaf.

Her name is Elizabeth Zwick-Anderson of 68 years of Age.From all Indications her condition is really deteriorating.According to her doctor he has advised her that she may not live for the next few weeks so I have to be close to her now,condolencely watch her pass away and ensure that my inheritance is put into order so I can take it out of that undeveloped country into the western world.

I was born an orphan,i'm single and never been married before,however I hope to get married someday soon when i'm sure I have found the right woman that will love me and be there for me.After my mother passes away,i want to maybe get married after I have gotten my inherited belongings of over $9 million that is deposited at cornerstone Security Company.

Presently,this money is still with them and my mother's lawyer called me as the beneficiary to ensure that I arrive Nigeria so I can claim the money for keeping it or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I wouldn't be able to come orelse the security company and the Government over there might get it confiscated.

Presently,my mother has her laptop in a hospital where she has been admitted and undergoing treatment for cancer and has since lost her ability to talk and the doctors have told me that she has only a few weeks to live.It is my wish to divide my wealth between me,you and the motherless baby home that she founded if you sincerely care and will help me when i'm over there since you are over here.

I took this decision to trust you because the people around me don't have any money so I can't trust them at all.I do not want to deal with anyone else but you if you have the money and believe in luck.As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you more of my contact so we can talk to get to know each other better before you make your decision to come into my life.Please assure me that if you respond to me you will act calmly and according to me so as not to make it obvious to everyone that just you will be a lucky person.

Lastly, I want you to be praying for me regarding my trip to West Africa and a comfortable life after all these is settled. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and The sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and me forever and ever-Amen!!!


Yours in Christ,
Craig

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