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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: "Rev.Fr.Johncan More" <johncanmore@yahoo.ie>
Reply-To: mjohncan@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 13:33:49 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Letter From Rev.Fr. Johncan More


Letter From  Rev.Fr. Johncan More

ST.ANTOINE DE PADOUE
10 CITE DU PORT
18 BP 1830
COTE D'IVOIRE ABIDJAN
 
ATTN: , 
 
                                    Notification  of   Bequest

On behalf of the Trustes and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Joel Wendy,  I hereby attempt to  reach you via your e-mail address I wish to notify you that Late  Engr. Joel Wendy made you a beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars  to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.
 
Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Late  Engr. Joel Wendy until his death was a former managing director and pioneer staff of a giant construction company.  He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.  Late  Engr. Joel Wendy died on the 9th day of February 2008 at the age of 83 years, and his Will is now ready for execution.
 
According to him this money is to support your Christian activities and to help the poor and the needy. Please If I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back to me as soon as possible to enable the immediate execution of your portion of the bequest to enable earlier disbursment by the Paying Bank.
 
You should  foward along  your telephone and fax numbers, as the beneficiary in question and your current mailing address if different from the above. On demand I would send you the Obituary notice of Late Engr. Joel Wendy  for your perusal and maybe you would recognise him.  I hope to hear from you in no distant time. I will give you my contact number after your response.
 
Yours in His service,
Rev.Fr. Johncan More
Parish Priest.
 
 


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