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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: chrisim <chrisim@cantv.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 03:57:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Madam Maria Glenda Diaz: Greetings.


From Madam Maria Glenda Diaz: Greetings.
Hello,
I want to solicit your assistance in fulfiling my last wish.
I am Madam Maria Glenda Diaz,68yrs old widow,my husband and i workedand headed departments in Tullow oil London United Kingdom before he died seven years ago.
I am contacting you from my sick bed here in Europe as i have been diagnosed of endometrial cancer,unfortunatelly for me, mydoctor said i don't have any chance to survive except by a miracle.
The reason why i am writting you this email is because i want youto stand as beneficiary to the sum of my Three Million United states Dollarswhich i inherited from my late husband. I dont have any bilogical childof my own who will inherit this money neither do i have any adopted child.
My relatives and family members have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness and i cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them anymore or to anybody in my country. I want to donate 85% of this money to assist and finance motherlesschildren,orphanges,the handicapped,the less priviledged etc.
I would like you to convert 15% of the total sum for your own personal use.
I am well informed that releasing this three Million Dollars from thebank will attract charges, payments etc which the bank will not agree to reduce from the total sum and i do not know your financial strength to cover these expenses or charges ?.
I on my own side cannot pay any dime here on the sick bed.
However i am in contact and have an agreement with financiers who has agreed to finance any project i have because of thier remarkable relationship with my late husband when he was alive.
This implies that these financiers will loan you the necessary amountof money required to pay and cover all the charges and payments required by the bank before the release and transfer the three million Dollars to your bank account.
If you are willing to help me receive this money and do as i wish then dorespond immediately and i will give you more details.
Expecting your response soonest.
Sincerely,
Madam Maria Glenda Diaz.

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