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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: mary mark <mary49@amicable.biz>
Reply-To: mary_2010mark@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 11:00:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Beloved Friend


Dear Beloved Friend

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I came across your email contact from my personal search and decided to write to you concerning my deposited donation fund, i believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.I am Mrs Mary Mark from Kuwait, Married in Abidjan Cote D,Ivoire, i am 58 years old, i am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the breasat,which affected my speaking organ. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next few months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up in a motherless babys home,and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child.

My husband have died since two years now and the family of my husband have drived me away because i have no child with my husband and the family. Since his death of my husband I decided not to re-marry, my husband is very rich and have a lot of investment which the family now have taken over.I herited US$4.5Million dollars which my late husband deposited in one of the bank here before he died. presently this money is still with me Presently, Im with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have being trying everthing humanly possible but God knows the best.

It is my last wish to see that this money is distributed to the charity organization, the poor and the motherless babys home where I come from. I want your good humanitarian, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around for the promotion of the work of God.

I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes come true. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of Bank.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.Hope to hear from you soonest and finally do contact me via if you really want assist me in this Godly project. please contact me throgh this email Awaiting your reply,

Mrs Mary Mark

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