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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: "Mrs. Mariam Lopez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmariamlopez@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:31:16 +0100
Subject: I Am Mrs. Mariam Lopez Respond Urgent

Dear Sir.

This is Mrs. Mariam Lopez from Namibia but presently in France for operation. I have a donation to make which I will need your assistance to carry it out for me, I will be 62 years old this coming August 17, a widow and a servant of the Lord for the past 38 years in Ivory Coast.

I inherited some money ($9.121, 000) from my late husband Mr J.hugo Lopez; I want to give it out to Orphanage and Charity Organisations as a vow which I made before the Lord.
I have a lung and breast cancer and will be having operation next two weeks, though the doctors already confirmed I only have some months to live but I am happy and glad that the Lord has kept me safe and guided me to accomplish my mission on earth. I will be happy to meet Him where He wants me to be.

I want you to contact this nurse Miss Françoise Philomene; I have given her the documents of the money and have directed her to a lawyer that will assist you
to change the documents of the money to your name to enable the bank transfer the money to you.

Miss Françoise Philomene
Email: philomenefrancoise@yahoo.co.jp


She will give you the documents of the money and will direct you to the lawyer I have appointed to her; the lawyer will assist you to change the documents of the money to your name for the bank totransfer the money to you.

This is the favour I need when you have gotten the money:-
(1) Give 10% of the money to Miss Françoise Philomene as a promise Imade to her.
(2) Give 50% of the money to Charity organizations, orphanage homesand Churches on my name so that my soul may rest in peace.
The remaining 40% should be for you and others that you would loveto assist.
And if I don't hear from you within few days, I will look foranother person.
May God bless you and use you to accomplish my
wish.

Pray for me always.
Mrs. Mariam Lope


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