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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 JONES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mary_hilarry@ipal.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 10:42:07 -0500
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT GBNYMBUJQU

This is HTML source of message you composed. Do not modify here. To modify this message press HTML Messages Editor button.
From: Mrs Mary Jones
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
I am the above named person from U.K. I am married to Dr Hilarry Jones who worked with U.K embassy in Accra for nine years before he died in the year 2000.We were married for eleven years
without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $8.6Million (Eight
Million six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with one finance/security company. Presently, this money is still with the Security
Company. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next one months due to cancer problem.
Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a christian individual
that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a church that will use this fund to fund churches, orphanages and widows
propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child
that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard
earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an unGodly manner.
Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of
the Lord. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health .As soon as I receive your reply
I shall give you the contact of the Finance/Security Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original-beneficiary of this fund. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you soon
NB:please reply message:mary_hilarry@ipal.com
BOHXMUWYWONGFDBIMYRWHLMSWYKUDITNCDUVTE

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