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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: MISS MARY DOUGLAS <office------mesag@att.net>
Reply-To: missmarydouglas78@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:03:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM



DEAR SIR/MADAM



THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF INTO.



MY NAME IS MARY DOUGLAS , I AM 23 YEARS OLD GIRL ,I GOT YOUR

CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY

PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.



I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS,TWO BROTHERS WITH OUR FAMILY HOUSE DURING THE BOMB EXPLOSION AT THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS). I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE OUTSIDE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM WRITING YOU NOW FROM OUR CHURCH WHERE THE VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION ARE KEPT INCLUDING MYSELF.



NO HOUSE, NO GOOD HEALTH,BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US$9,000,000.00 (NINE MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH A

PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY.NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND I AM THE

ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY

IN YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND RELOCATE ME TO

JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY

HERE, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER.PLEASE INDICATE YOUR

READINESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS

WILL BE PASSED TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.



SEND TO ME YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMPREPARED TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME ON MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL BOX: missmarydouglas78@gmail.com



SINCERELY YOURS

MISS MARY DOUGLAS

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