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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.Faith Momoo" <faithmomoo@att.net>
Reply-To: faithomo@myself.com
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 10:10:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello My Beloved One.


Hello My Beloved One.
 
I greet you with the name of our God, It is true that this letter may come to you as a surprise.
 
Nevertheless,I humbly ask you to give me your attention and hear me well.
 
My name is Mrs.Faith Momoo,from Australia,I am married to Dr.Edward Momoo,who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast (Cote D'ivoire) for a period of 8years before he died.
 
We were married for 9 years without a child before he died after a brief illness Since his death I decided not to re-marry due to my religious belief ..
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$6.5m(Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United State American dollars) with a Bank in Cote D'ivoire.
 
Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in Cote D'ivoire,Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Four months due to cancer illness.
 
Having known my condition I decided to donate this money to Church's,organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.
 
I want you to use this money for Church's,Charity organization,orphanages,widows and other people that are less previlaged.
 
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money.
 
Moreover,my husband relatives are not close to me since I develop a Cancer problem and it had been their wish to see me dead in order to inherit his wealth since we have no Child These people are not worthy of this inheritance.
This is why I am taking this decision.
 
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my ill-health.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the Bank in Cote d'ivoire, where this money is deposited.
 
I also want you to always put me in prayer.
 
Any delay in your reply may give me room to look for another good person for this same purpose. 
 
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. 
 
Hoping to receive your response soonest.
 
Thanks and Remain blessed.
Mrs.Faith Momoo.

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