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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: "Mariam Edwards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mariamedwards1950@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:54:31 -0700
Subject: RE:MY LAST WISH.....USE IT FOR CHARITY AND ORPHANAGE

Dear beloved one in Christ,

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you but the lord chose
you, I came across your email contact from my personal search and i decide
to email you on here on my sick bed in hospital and I believe that you will
be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mrs Mariam Edward from Fredonia, New york United State of America but
presently in London,United Kindom,and I am 69 years old, I am deaf and
don't hear and suffering from a long time cancer of the breast,From all
indication my condition is really deteriorating, and doctor Sam have
courageously advised me that I may not live long, this
is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up
in a motherless babies home, and i was married to my late husband Johnson
Edwards for twenty years without a child.

My husband and I are true Christian's,we lived all day in Kuala
Lumpur,Malaysia, since he was working here as a contractor, but quite
unfortunately,he died in a fire burt he burn to asshes none of is body was
found,Since his death I decided not to re-marry and because of my bad stage
of health,I sold all our inheritance belongings to me and my late husband
Johnson and deposited all the total sum of $98.8Million United State dollars
with the HSBC Bank United Kindom and all our
jewelries Diamonds and Golds with a security company in United Kindom here and i
still have my wedding rings with me here.

Presently, this money is still in the BANK, and the management of the
HSBC Bank United Kindom just write me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come
forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a
letter of authorization to some one i trusted to receive it on my behalf
since I can not come over because of my illness, or they get it confiscated
to move into government account as an unclaim funds and i don't want these
to happen to me my beloved one cause this is me and my late husband hard
earns,Presently I'm with my laptop here in Malaysia Hospital where I have
been undergoing treatment,I have since lost my ability to talk and Doctor
Sam have told me that I have only a few months to live On earth.

It is my last wish to see that me and my late husband hard earn money is
invested in any organization of your choice and distributed yearly among the
charities organization, the poors and the motherless babies home where I
come from,I want your good humanitarian to also use these money to fund
churches, orphanages homes and widows around your environments.

I must let you know that these was a very hard decision, but I had to take
a bold step towards these 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 information of
my Bank Manager Mr Mark Jacob in United Kindom, I will also issue a
letter of authorization in your name from my late husband attorney so you
can forward to my bank, which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of
my funds,Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated in my
email,Hope to hear from you soonest my beloved one in christ.

I await your response back my beloved one in christ My first Email to reach
me back :my personal email: mariamedwards1950@gmail.com

Yours sincerely sister in Christ,

Mrs Mariam Edwards.

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