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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 SAFFIYA MOLLY ADAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <saffiya_adams@yahoo.ie>
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:47:50 -0000
Subject: request

DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS MRS SAFFIYA MOLLY ADAMS A 71 YEAR OLD WOMAN FROM DUBLIN-IRELAND.I OWNED TWO BUSINESSES IN DOHA AND CAPE VERDE.I AM MARRIED WITH NO CHILDREN. MY HUSBAND DIED SIX YEARS AGO.SINCE I HAVE NO CHILDREN OF MY OWN, I DEVOTED MY TIME AND MONEY TO HELPING MOTHERLESS CHILDREN AND THE LESS PRIVILEDGED IN THE SOCIETY AROUND THE WORLD.
PRESENTLY, I AM RECEIVING TREATMENT IN A HOSPITAL IN WEST DUBLIN FOR LEUKEMIA AND THE DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT I HAVE FEW MONTHS TO LIVE.BEFORE I BECAME ILL, I HAVE SOME LARGE SUM OF MONEY AND IT IS DEPOSITED ABROAD WITH A FINANCE COMPANY.
NOW THAT I AM DYING I NEED SOMEONE WHOM I CAN ENTRUST WITH THIS MONEY AND WHO WILL HELP ME ENSURE THAT THESE FUND IS USED TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEDGED AND MOTHERLESS CHILDREN.
I AM BELIEVING THAT YOU WOULD OFFER THIS SERVICE FOR HUMANITY SAKE.IF YOU CAN HELP ME,PLEASE MAIL ME SO THAT I WILL GIVE YOU THE CONTACT DETAILS OF MY LAWYER HERE IN DUBLIN SO THAT YOU WILL DISCUSS WITH HIM ON HOW YOU WILL PROCESS AND RECEIVE THE FUNDS.
PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS MAIL IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME BUT I AM ALWAYS WITH MY COMPUTER.I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS.
MRS SAFFIYA MOLLY ADAMS
saffiya_adams@yahoo.ie

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