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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. Linda Jackson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lindajackson_private@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:13:58 +0700
Subject: BELOVED REPLY URGENT

Dear Beloved,
I am Mrs. Linda Jackson from Canada who worked with Shell Oil Company here in London for
 
Eighteen good years before i retired as a result of my sickness. I and my husband were married
 
for eleven years without a child but unfortunately he died after a brief illness in 1990 that
 
lasted for only four days.But since my husband died i decided not to marry any man again till
 
now, but recently my doctor told me that I would not last for next two months due to my
 
sickness(canser).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 efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't
 
want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way.
 
I have decided to donate the fund through you to help the motherless, less privileged and also
 
for the assistance of the widows all over the world.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 husband's
 
relatives around me always,I don't want them to know about this development because they are
 
not Christians. I shall inform the financial Vault in London that you are the beneficiary of
 
my fund so that they will contact you for the releasing of the fund to you.
I will introduce you to my family lawyer that will prepare an authorization letter of claiming
 
my fund.My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.Please always be prayerful
 
all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person
 
for this same purpose.
 
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to receive your
 
reply and remain blessed.Please send me your complete information,to enable me send over to my
 
family attorney.
 
(1). Full names:
(2). contact address:
(3). Phone:
(4). Cell phone:
(5). Age:
(6). Occupation;
 
Regard's
Mrs. Linda Jackson.

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