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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: "Mrs. Mary Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <maryjohnson4christ146@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 04:52:50 +1000
Subject: GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF LORD

Dear Beloved,

I know this mail may come to you as a surprise. I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow in my heart. With due respect, trust and humanity, I appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter, i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important call.

I am Mrs. Mary Johnson, 69 yrs from North Ireland, affected with cancer of the breast. My condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that I may not live more than 2 weeks, because the cancer stage has gotten its 3rd stage.

I was married to Late Dr. Richard Johnson, an American. I was married to my late husband for twenty-five years without an issue of a single child. My late husband died as a result of a fatal motor accident.

I came to the internet, because I needed to seek for a trustworthy and God fearing friend whom I can trust, to help me carry out my last wish. Before my husband died, I inherited some properties from him, and I had to sell them all because I have no family. I realized a sum of US$25.5 Million US Dollars and deposited the funds with HSBC Bank in the UK for security purpose. Presently, this funds is still lying with the finance house, and I have instructed the bank about my present illness, and informed them that I will instruct my beneficiary to contact them to claim the fund on my behalf as my next-of-kin.

My dear, you do not need to entertain any fear, as my heart is very open and sincere, and I want you to help me claim this funds and utilize it for the following purpose below:


1. To Support the Lives of the Sick, and less Privileged and Destitute.

2. To Support Widows and Motherless Baby homes.

3. Orphanage Homes, Research Centers and Widows Propagation.

I was brought up from a motherless baby home, and now that i have few months to live, it is my last wish to see that this fund is claimed by you and invested to any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless babies home where i come from.

Kindly indicate your sincere willingness to help me, and I will give you further details and contact of the Bank in UK to contact for the claim.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

Hoping to hearing from you soon.

Mrs. Mary Johnson,

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