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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: "Mariah Fabrris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m.fabrris003@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 22:55:59 +0100
Subject: Greeting

Greeting To You From Mrs. Fabbris

With due respect and humility, I am Mrs. Mariah Fabbris, from St Kitts & Nevis but now undergoing medical treatment. I was married to Mr. Fabbris Aguila. Who worked with as an expatriate with a cocoa Processing company in Ghana for more than twelve years, before he died in the year 2002. We were both married for eleven years without children.

He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of six million two hundred thousand united states dollars deposited with International Commercial Bank Ghana Plc. And he deposited it as family valuables not as money. I will send you the contact details of the bank as soon as you indicate your interest to carry my wish. Recently, my Doctor told me that I will die soon due to cancer illness that I have been suffering for years. Having known my condition and believing the doctor I have decided to donate this fund to avoid total loss to church, less privilege, or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

This money should be used to help churches, orphanages, widows and propagating the Gospel and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. Please do not fail to spread the funds across the globe especially AFRICA as soon as you receive the money.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are fighting over the properties and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by their greedy attitude. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an UNGODLY manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

As soon as I receive your confirmation that you can carry my wish, I shall advice you on what to do.
God bless you.

Yours, Sincerely.
Mrs. Mariah Fabbris

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