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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: "Al-Maraghy Holdings" <maraghyinvestmentskuwait@mynet.com>
Reply-To: mmaraghykw@yahoo.es
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:57:22 +1000 (EST)
Subject: blessings to your family,please help me


Blessings to you and your family,

I hope that this mail will not be an embarrassment to you,please help me.
You have been recommended by an associate from our foreign trade council
who assured me in confidence of your trustworthiness and faith in God.
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday

I am Mrs. Maria Al-Maraghy, a merchant in Kuwait; I am married to Sheikh
Salem Al-Maraghy who worked with Kuwait embassy in Dubai for nine years
before he died in the year 2002.
We were married for eleven years without a child and since his death I
decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home.

I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which has defiled all forms
of medical treatment. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I
never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. With all
my wealth, I was never generous and was always hostile to people and only
focusing on my business.

But now I regret all this, as I now know that there is more to life than
just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when
God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a
different way from how I have lived it. I have willed and given almost of
my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well
as a few close friends.
I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so I have decided
to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the
last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some
charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia.

Presently, my health has deteriorated so badly, that I can no longer do
this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my
accounts and distribute the money, which I have there to charity
organization in Asia and Africa but they refused and kept the money to
themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contented with
what I have left for them.

The last of my money, which no one knows of, is the cash deposit of Eight
Million United States Dollars (US$8,000,000.000) deposited with a
finance/security company abroad.
Since I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me
that I might not be able to survive this illness from all indications, it
is my last wish to see this money distributed to victims of Hiv/Aids,
charity organizations, orphans and widows in your country.
My relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my
illness and I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge
responsibility to them anymore.

Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed in this regard, I propose a
commission of 10% of the above sum to you this purpose.

Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my
peace. I will not be able to use the telephone communication in this
regard because of my soundless voice and the presence of my husband's
relatives around me always. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give
you the contact of the
finance/security company and also issue you a Letter of Authority to take
over the deposit and disburse it accordingly on my behalf.

Please assure me that you will act as I stated herein.

Kindly send your reply enclosing your Contact and email address to my
private email address (mariamaraghy@aggies.com) , for confidentiality.

Mrs. Maria Al-Maraghy
mariamaraghy@aggies.com


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