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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: "Mrs Maria Johnson" <info@help.com>
Reply-To: walterashdownlawfirm199@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:43:32 -0200
Subject: Please Read Reply And God Bless

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Maria Johnson.I am a dying woman who had decided to
donate what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer
about 2years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me
everything he worked for.I have been touched by God to donate from what I
have inherited from my late husband to the you for the good work of
God,rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds
ungodly.I will be going in for an operation,and i pray that i survive
theoperation.I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000(Ten million
five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of thelord,and to
help the motherless,less privileged and also for theassistance of the widows.

Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund
to you. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you
abundantly,and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to
others.Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email
address(walterashdownlawfirm199@hotmail.com)or you can call his private line:
Tel: +447023062599 .if you are interested in carrying out this task,so that
he can arrange the release of the funds($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's
name is Barrister Walter Ashdown.I know I have never met you but my mind
tells me to do this,and i hope you act sincerely.

Thank you and God bless you.
Mrs Maria Johnson

Anti-fraud resources: