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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: stephean lawrence <stepheanlawrence@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:15:21 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM Mrs Stephean Lawrence


FROM Mrs Stephean Lawrence
  
Dear beloved friend,
  
I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I came across your email contact from my personal search and decided to write to you concerning my deposited fund, i believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.
 
I am  I am Mrs Stephean Lawrence from Cuba, Married in Abidjan Cote D,Ivoire, i am 58 years old, i am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the breast, which affected my speaking organ.
 
From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next few months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up in a motherless babys home, and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child.
 
My husband have died since two years now and the family of my husband have drived me away because i have no child with my husband and the
family.
 
Since his death of my husband I decided not to re-marry, my husband is very rich and have a lot of investment which the family now have taken over.I herited US$2.6M dollars(two million six hundread thousand dollars)which my late husband deposited in one of the bank here before he died.
 
presently this money is still with bank Presently, I‘m with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have being trying everthing humanly possible but God knows the best. i will like so you will help me recive this US$2.6M  to your account so that i will come there and take a better treatment which you will use this money invest any good lucrative business in your country because this is my only hope in life.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of Bank
 
Awaiting your reply,
Yours in Christ,
 Mrs Stephean Lawrence

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