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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: "Maria Johnson" <maria@info.com>
Reply-To: walter.ashdownlaw36@googlemail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 10:04:12 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: PLEASE READ, GOD BLESS YOU

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Maria Johnson.I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about
2years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me
everything he worked for.I have been touched by God to donate from what I
have inherited from my late husband to the you for the good work of
God,rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds
ungodly.I will be going in for an operation,and i pray that i survive the
operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000(Ten
million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the
lord,and to help the motherless,less privileged and also for the
assistance of the widows.

Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund
to you.I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you
abundantly,and please use the funds well and always extend the good work
to others.Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address
(walter.ashdownlaw36@googlemail.com ) or you can call his private
line:+447024053733. if you are interested in carrying out this task,so
that he can arrange the release of the funds ($10,500,000.00) to you. My
lawyer's name is Barrister Walter Ashdown.I know I have never met you but
my mind tells me to do this,and i hope you act well.


Thank you and God bless you.

Maria Johnson



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