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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: "Alinari Fondazione" <fondazione@alinari.it>
Reply-To: barbaragunson@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 05:08:44 +0200
Subject: PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE!!![Reply only to barbaragunson@gmail.com]

Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Barbara Gunnarsson from Iceland, married to Late Engr Brown
Gunnarsson {PhD} who worked with MULTINATIONAL OIL COMPANY EXXON AS A DRILLING
RIG SUPPLIER in Saudi Arabia for 19 years before he died on the 25th of August,
2009. We were married for twenty four years without a child. He died after a
brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, he deposited
the sum of 6,143,728.00 US Dollars with a bank In Canada and this fund is
presently with the bank awaiting my disbursement as beneficiary and next of kin
to the funds. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next
eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition, I decided to
donate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will utilize
this money in good faith.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money. I kept this deposit secret till date, this is why I am taking this
decision. I don't think I will need any telephone communication in this regard
because of the confidentiality of this transfer. Upon your reply I shall give
you the contact of the bank. I will also issue a letter of authorization to the
bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. Reply to my
very confidential email address barbaragunson@gmail.com

Await your responds and God bless you.
Mrs. Barbara Gunnarsson
Email: barbaragunson@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: