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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: "JONES MARY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <maryjonesonly@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:06:15 +0100
Subject: We can give hope to the needy ( Yes we can )....

A CALL TO SERVE!!! ( PLEASE DONT IGNORE THIS )
From: Mrs.Mary Jones
Beloved,
Compliments of the day to you! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologize for my
intrusion of your privacy. However, I have a serious concern with which I
believe you might be of help and for this reason, I cannot but reach out to
someone - a fellow Brethren. My name as given above is Mary Jones, Liberian and
married to Saudi Arabian Diplomat Edward Harry Jones. I and my husband have been
married for 12 years and has lived and worked around the world as diplomats and
worthy ambassadors of both
nationalities, until his death to a ghastly auto crash in 2003, shortly after
his conversion from Muslim to Christianity. We were a dedicated Christians and
decided to serve mankind to the best of our ability. Am now taking a treatment
in West Africa In herbal home

Since his death, I have lived with the memories, fighting effortlessly to lead a
normal life but all to no avail. I suffered mentally and psychologically and
shortly was diagnosed of Cancer. I lived with the scourge praying earnestly for
divine intervention. Just a month ago, the doctor informed me that I have just
about three months more to live. I was not shocked. I accepted the news in good
fate.
Brethren, it is in this regard that I write to you, having sourced your address
from a database in my late husband's internet dozier after fervent prayers.
Before my husband died, he deposited a sum of Million (Five Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) with a Finance/Security company. I have
wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety of this fund to any devoted
believer or organization and to achieve this, I need a devoted Christian
individual that will utilize this funds adherently

for these purposes:
1: For the propagation of the gospel
2: For the sick, less-privileged and destitute
3: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c.
These are the wishes of a dying woman. They are the desires of my heart, hence
my decision as I do not have a child to take over my inheritance.


Please, understand that I am not doing this because of fear of death as I am
certain where my place already is at this point, friends, well wishers, and my
husbands relatives are all clambered around me as I sojourn in my hospital bed
and are unaware of my plight, hence I will not be able to make an open
conversation.
When I receive your response, I will direct you at once to the Finance/Security
Company. I will also empower you with a letter of authority as the new
beneficiary to this fund with all necessary documentation.

All I need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me that you
can in all honesty and obedience utilize the funds for the purpose with which it
is meant. In any a case, a quick response from you will be highly appreciated as
I am already on a count-down and may not have ample time to finalize the
procedures. Any delay in response may compel me to source for other measures or
perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy to.
Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbelievable opportunity
to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist the less privileged
in truth and in spirit with a substance.
I await your immediate response.
Thank You and God Bless You richly!
Yours Sincerely
Sister Mary Jones

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