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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 Wilford <mrshelena8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrshelena8@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 04:00:18 +0800 (CST)
Subject: please forgive me


Dear Friend,
 
I am Mrs. Helena Wilford, a British citizen but presently in Spain. I got your contact from my late business partner Mr. Johnson Abdel like I used to call him though I don't really know the name you knew him as, being a widely traveled man. Late Mr. Johnson is a native/citizen of your own country but he relocated. I write to confess that i conspired and claimed the fund he bequeathed to you without your consent/notice, I pray that you will find a place in your heart to forgive me. Please I want you to relax your mind to read this email so that you will understand its contents.

Following the death of my late business partner Mr. Johnson Abdel like I used to call him, his friends list was brought out by his personal attorney confirming your short-listed name on the list as one of his old friends to receive 550,000GBP in accomplishment of his promise to god for his financial blessing according to him, he promised god that he will help the less privileged and remember his old friends if god blesses him financially like late Mr. Johnson stated on the beneficiaries deed document as presented by his personal attorney.

Knowing fully well that you are not aware of this bequest from my late business partner Mr. Johnson Abdel like I used to call him, I greedily took a conspired advantage and claimed the fund that was legitimately bequeathed to you by my late business partner your old friend without your consent/notice. Please, please find a place in your heart and forgive me. I will admit that I have a difficult time dealing with unsettled mind after I took a conspired advantage and claimed the fund.I know is hard to forgive a thing like this but please forgive me, it was out of greediness which Indeed the major fault of mine. I hope that you will focus your mind on good memories you have experienced in life rather than this painful behavior of mine.

I really know how you feel in your mind which is why I intend to attach my passport on my next email. I know this email may have come to you as a big surprise because secret when revealed surprises anyone. I believe your kind forgiveness will make me happy and strengthen me in many other aspects of my life rather than your anger which will only hinder me from moving on from this time in my life. Please forgive me for everything. I know an act like this could make any one apprehensive and worried, but please, please forgive me. I plan to visit your country next week to give you further details of everything but i deemed it very important to confess this to you and establish good relation with you before visiting your country next week. I hope that you will be available to meet with me for further clarification when i come?

To err is to human and to forgive is divine. Please respond to my request by writing to my alternative email address( mrshelena7@yahoo.com) at your earliest convenience as it will facilitate my visit next week to explain everything to you.

god bless,

Mrs. Helena Wilford
(mrshelena7@yahoo.com)

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