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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: MARCOS PATRICIA <m.patricia@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: patricamarcos@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 13:48:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello Dear




Hello Dear

Please my dear, do not feel embarrassed by my mail to you. I am Mrs Patricia Marcos, the wife of late Dr. Joseph Marcos, a prominent business man and pro-human right defender/member of the movement for national freedom before his death in the Philippines.

During my late husband's lifetime, he informed me about the fund (€3.2M) he deposited in one of the leading bank in Togo, for the up keeping/future of my child - Henry and informed me concerning it.

I am contacting you because I want you to help me in securing and investing this money for the future and education of my child Henry, since I am incapable of doing so due to my deteriorating health situation cancer problem that is terminal. my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months.

I will make available to you 15% of the total money for your efforts and labour. I shall be expecting your reply- mail so that I will inform you the details of this transfer and will as well give you the contact of this bank and all informations needed to enable them release this money to you without difficulty or delay. So please get back to me soon if you are keen and capable to help me

Best regards
Mrs Patricia Marcos

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