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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.Anita Brown <anitabrown@handbag.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:18:43 +0900
Subject: Hello My Dear Beloved.

GOOD DAY.

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS ANITA BROWN, A WIDOW TO LATE THOMAS BROWN. I AM 70 YEARS OLD, I AM A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM A LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATIONS MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON'T FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDN'T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS WEALTH AND BUSINESSES.

THE DOCTORS HAVE ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO NOW I HAVE DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCHES IN AMERICA ASIA, AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING A WEB SITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $12,000.000.00 U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT THIS FUND IS LYING IN A BANK IN NIGERIA.I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY,WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE USED FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOURS IN CHRIST

ANITA BROWN

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