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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: "Mrs Maria Johnson" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 08:48:38 +0100
Subject: GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GIVER!

Mrs maria johnson
12 Alnwick Road
Lee
London
SE12 9BT
U.k.
GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GIVER!
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I am Mrs.Maria Johnson A widow to the Late Sheik Mohamed Johnson, I am 73
years
old,I am now a new Christian convert,suffering from long time
cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is
really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live long
according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very
bad stage.
My late husband was killed during the U.S raid against
terrorism in Afghanistan when he traveled to Afghanistan to monitor
an Hospital/a Humanitarian Foundation (HHF) he was setting up
for the benefit of the Afghan masses as of then, whose
majority,and 99 percent of them are Muslims/ Islamic scholars and
loyalists.
During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any
child..
My late husband was very wealthy and after his death ,
I inherited all his businesses and wealth, and when i
noticed that my condition is not improving rather it gets worsen by the
day i decided to divide part of this wealth, to contribute to Charity
and the development of the churches in Africa, America,
Asia and Europe.
I selected you after visiting the internet and I prayed
over it.
I am willing to donate the fund to you for charity,the less
privileged,churches,orphanages and widows, Propagating the word of
God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.I took this
decision upon myself because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I
don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by
unbelievers. because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition
without Christ is vanity upon vanity.
Please I want you to note that, this fund is deposited
with a Security Firm in London England. and upon my instruction,
you will file in an application for the transfer of the
fund in your name which i registered as a gold bar with
the security company Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when transferred
will be used for the said purpose.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family.
Await Your Urgent Reply,any delay in your reply will give
me room in sourcing for a church, another person or Christian
individual for this same purpose.
Please reply me through this email address:mariajohnson_1972@yahoo.co.jp
Yours in Christ.
Maria Johnson

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