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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrs_ghayth@onfruit.cn
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:12:18 -0800
Subject: Dear Beloved,

=3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EMRS=2E GHAYTH FAIZA=2E =3CBR=3E23=2C Hawley Crescent=2C = =3CBR=3ECamden Town=2C London=2C =3CBR=3ENW1 8NP=2C England=2E =3CBR=3E=3C= BR=3EDear Beloved=2C =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EHere writes Mrs=2E Ghayth Faiza=2C = suffering from cancerous ailment=2E I am married to Watson Ghayth an Ara= bian who is dead=2E My husband was into private practice all his life be= fore his death=2E Our life together as man and wife lasted for three dec= ades without a child=2E My husband died after a protracted illness=2E My= husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privil= eged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not help themselv= es due to physical disability or financial predicament=2E I can adduce t= his to the fact that he needed a Child from this relationship=2C which n= ever came=2E =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EWhen my late husband was alive he deposited= the sum of Two Million Great Britain Pound Sterling which were derived = from his vast estates and investment in capital market with his bank her= e in UK=2E Presently=2C this money is still with the Bank=2E Recently=2C= my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous= problems I am suffering from=2E =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EThough what bothers me = most is the stroke that I have in addition to the cancer=2E With this ha= rd reality that has befallen my family and I=2C I have decided to donate= this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husb= ands effort to fund the upkeep of widows=2C widowers=2C orphans=2C desti= tute=2C the down-trodden=2C physically challenged children=2C barren-wom= en and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially=2E =3CB= R=3E=3CBR=3EIt is often said that blessed is the hand that giveth=2E I t= ook this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this= money and my husband=27s relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy perso= ns and I do not want my husband=27s hard earned money to be misused or i= nvested into ill perceived ventures=2E I do not want a situation where t= his money will be used in an ungodly manner=2C hence the reason for taki= ng this bold decision=2E I am not afraid of death hence I know where I a= m going=2E I know that I am going to be with the Almighty when I eventua= lly pass on=2E =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EThe Almighty will fight my case and I sha= ll hold my peace=2E I do not need any telephone communication in this re= gard due to my deteriorating health and because of the presence of my hu= sband=27s relatives around me=2C I do not want them to know about this d= evelopment=2E With God all things are possible=2E As soon as I receive y= our reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank in UK=2E I will also = issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the original be= neficiary of this fund=2E My happiness is that I lived a life worthy of = emulation=2E Please always be prayerful all through your life=2E =3CBR=3E= =3CBR=3EPlease assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein=2E= Hope to hear from you soon and God bless you and members of your family= =2E =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EReply to my mail through my email address=3A mrs=5Fg= haythfaiza=40onfruit=2Ecn =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EYours Faithfully in Christ=2C = =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3EMrs=2E Ghayth Faiza=2E =3CBR=3Emrs=5Fghayth=40onfruit=2E= cn =3CBR=3E=3CBR=3E=3CBR=3E

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