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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: faktha2@mailuto.moph.go.th
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:04:20 +0700
Subject: Contact my Account Officer(Reply:cherylbruce@london.com)

Dear
I got your email from a friend of yours who wishes you well. I come in peace and
something very positive is about to happen to your life and the lives of others
through you if only you can carefully read and digest the message below.
I am Mother Judith A. Wilcox, 87 Years old woman and the wife of Late Sir Alex
Wilcox who died in a Plane crash on Monday the 2nd of September 1998 GMT 4:22
UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva. Please see site below for
more information:
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/americas/9809/03/victim.list.02/index.html?iref=storysearch

After the death of my husband I became the Head of his investment and now that I
am old and weak I have decided to go to my resting place, but before the death
of my husband we had a plan to use the last days of our lives to donate half of
what we had worked for to the less privilege/charity homes and the other half
for ourselves, family members and close friends. Unfortunately, my husband is
not alive today to do this with me and I am very weak and old now, hence I have
decided to do this philanthropic work on behalf of my late husband and I.
Presently, I have willed out almost half of our assets to several charity
homes/less privilege in different countries.


I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able respond to your next email
because I have just concluded the assignment which my husband and I have agreed
upon before his sudden death and you happened to be the beneficiary of our last
WILL irrespective of your previous financial status. Hence, I want you to
accept this offer that will cost you nothing.

My account closing balance is approximately £253,178.00 British Pounds with
Nationwide Bank and this amount would be transferred to you on your contact
with my Account Officer. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I HAVE PAID ALL COSTS AND DONE
ALL CLEARANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSFER SO THAT YOU WONT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS
RECEIVING AND USING THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY. "The only thing you are required
to do is reactivate my account which is dormant at the moment". I would have
reactivated the account but the bank advised me not to since they don't know
when you will be contacting them so as to avoid the account from been dormant
again.


Contact my Account Officer through the details below;

Nationwide Bank PLC
Grey Essex, Manchester UK
Account Officer: Miss Cheryl Bruce
Email: cherylbruce2002@hotmail.com
cherylbruce@london.com


Tel: +44-792-451-3536
Fax; +44-844-774-1842

I have sent Miss Cheryl Bruce your name and email but I want you to send him the
below information for reconfirmation.

Your Contact address:
Your Full Names:
Direct telephone number:


ASK HIM HOW THE ACCOUNT CAN BE REACTIVATED SO THAT THE AMOUNT £253,178.00
British Pounds) CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU.
Also, be notified that I will no longer be reading my emails or surfing the
internet as I have retired completely from the outside world to my resting
place, at this moment all further correspondence should be forwarded to my
Account Officer who is like a son to me. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Judith A. Wilcox


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