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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: "Mother Diane Smith." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <feedthepoor1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:23:59 -0800
Subject: Greetings In The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Subject: Faith Of Donation.
From: Mother Diane Smith (Evangelist)
E-mail:(dianesmith46176@btinternet.com)

Greetings In The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am Mother Diane Smith, a widow to late Richard A. Smith, I am 75 yrs old,I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than two months, According to my doctors.This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage.

My late husband killed during the U.S raid against terrorism in Afghanistan,and during the period of our marriage we had a 23 yrs old son who died in an auto crash three years ago. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death I inherited all his business and wealth.

The doctor has advice me that I may not live for more than two months, so I now decided to divide the part of this wealth, to contribute to the development of the church in Africa, America,
Asia and also in Europe. I prayed over it, and I am willing to donate the sum of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (USD$5,500, 000.00) to the less privileged.

Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a security company and upon my instruction, my attorney, will file in an application for the transfer of the money in your name. Lastly, 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.

Please kindly get back to me on my private email address (feedthepoor1@gmail.com) if you are willing to help for further details and directive.

Yours In Christ,

Mother Diane Smith.

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