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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 MERCY SHEPARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smrsmercy@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 19:09:34 +0200
Subject: Did you get my message

Dear friend,

Compliments of the day to you! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologize
for my intrusion of your privacy. However, I have a serious concern with
which I believe you might be of help and for this reason, I cannot but
reach out to someone. My name is, Mrs Mercy Shepard. A Nationality of Cape
verde .

I am married to late Mr. Daniel SHEPARD, who worked with the United Nation
Office in Iraq for 18 years before he was killed in a Car bomb accident.

We were a dedicated Christians (Catholic) and decided to serve mankind to
the best of our ability. Since his death, I have lived with the memories,
fighting effortlessly to live a normal life but all to no avail. I
suffered mentally and psychologically and shortly was diagnosed of Cancer.
I lived with the scourge praying earnestly for divine intervention. Just a
month ago, the doctor informed me that I have just about three months more
to live. I was not shocked. I accepted the news in good fate.

My dear beloved, it is in this regard that I write to you, having sourced
you after fervent prayers. Before my husband died, he deposited a sum of
$8.3Million (Eight Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
with a bank in benin.

I alone have the deposit details and they will release the deposit to no
one unless I instruct them to do so. The bank has no single idea of what’s
the history or nature of the deposit. They are simply awaiting
instructions to release the deposit to any party that I may direct. This
is the situation. I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have
them release the deposit to you.

I have wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety of this fund to any
devoted believer or organization and to achieve this, I need an individual
that will utilize this funds adherently for these purposes:
1: For the sick, less-privileged and destitute.
2: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c.
3: orphanages, Research centers and widows propagating.
These are the wishes of a dying woman. They are the desires of my heart,
hence my decision as I do not have a child to take over my inheritance.
Please, understand that I am not doing this because of fear of death as I
am certain where my place already is.


When I receive your response, I will direct you at once to an attorney who
shall assist you with the deposit portfolio transfer of ownership
procedures.
I wish to state here that my communication with you will seize once I have
given you the attorney contact and of
course a letter of authority mandating the bank to entertain your claims
of right of ownership.
All I need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me
that you can in all honesty and obedience utilize the funds for the
purpose with which it is meant.

In any a case, a quick response from you will be highly appreciated as I
am already on a count-down and may not have ample time to finalize the
procedures. Any delay in response may compel me to source for other
measures or perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy to.
Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbelievable
Opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist the
less privileged in truth and in spirit with a substance.

Do not betray my confidence in you.please reply me on my personal email
which smrsmercy@yahoo.com I insist that you reply me via this address.

I await your immediate response.Thank You and Bless You richly!
Yours Sincerely
Mrs MERCY SHEPARD

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