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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 Amoussou <amoussoumary@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: marryamoussou40@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:19:23 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Hello


Hello,



Please take your time to read this message; although we have never met before, this is no spam. It's a real message sent to you. I know also that you will be amazed at the level of trust that I am willing to place in a person that I have never seen nor spoken with.



My name is Mary Amoussou, I had a heart operation on the 13-08-2011 and the Doctors have just informed me that I can not live longer; I had a serious bleeding after the operation. I have decided to release the sum of $2.970.000.00 (Two million Nine Hundred and seventy Thousand US DOLLARS) deposited with my Bank; I want you to use these amount to make the world a better place for the poor and less privileged, help the needy and also help your family members. I have no child, no husband, and no family; lost my whole family to a fatal accident in London.



I have no other option as my days are short. This is no joke. It's true we don't receive emails like this everyday, today is different so it's time for "REAL CHANGE" I would turn 77 years a day after tomorrow. I took this decision because I was raised in an Orphanage and presently, I'm hospitalized at Benin Saint Luke hospital, where I am undergoing treatment. I was raised in in an Orphanage so my husband too, I don't have any relatives.



That’s why I have decided to contact you so that you can make good use of the money which I willed to you. Everyone around me here is just waiting for me to die, they all want my money and nothing else. I hate evil minded people and that’s why I want you to now contact my lawyer:



Contact name: David Anthony.

Email address: davidanthonyatlaw@yahoo.com

Office address: Rue 131 Calavi, Cotonou Benin Republic.



He will direct you on what to do to receive funds immediately; I have passed on my instructions to him so feel free to contact him. Please make sure you contact my lawyer, he is the only one that can respond to you in due time. I wish you the very best in life. Always pray for my soul to rest in perfect peace, I would be a very happy woman even in death if you use these funds for Good work to help humanity. I am 77 years old now and was good to everyone... please assure me that you would help me carry on the good work.



Mary Amoussou.



NB: Do not fail to contact my lawyer, because I might not be able to respond to your email in due time because of my ill health. Direct all questions to my lawyer

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