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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. pallavi Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mis.pallavi@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 19:23:08 +0530
Subject: I AM MIS.PALLAVI MOORE!!

My Dear Friend,
 
         I don't really know who you are, but I hope that peace is with you as you read this letter. My intuition tells me that I can
trust you with my proposition. I received your contact through my email directory and my inner voice suggested that I
send this money to you. I am a widow and a devoted Christian. My name is Mrs. pallavi Moore, and I live in city of Joplin Mo.
Since my husband died, I have been suffering from arthritis. Just this summer, my doctor has diagnosed me with terminal cancer.
I have approximately twelve months to live. I am currently confined to a wheelchair, and am being cared for by a nurse.
Before my husband died, he left me a large sum of money, to the tune of $5.6million Dollars. He made me promise that it should
be used for humanitarian work. We have no children you see, and my husband didn't want his brother to inherit it.
This money is currently being held by the bank, awaiting the proper recipient. It is up to me to decide who will gain access to it.
If you promise me that you will use this money to achieve the wish of my Husband and I, then I will instruct the bank to release
the contents of the vault in your name.
 
If you agree to use the money for humanitarian purposes, I will need the following information from you:
 
full name: _______
Address: _____________
City: ________________
State: _______________
Country: _____________
Marital status if individual: _____
Occupation: ________________
Age: _________________
Contact phone number: _______
Fax: _________
Mobile No.: _________
Email Address: _____________
 
God bless you as you walk in the light and glory.
Please Kindly send your reply to my private email address:  mis.pallavi@yahoo.com
 
Yours in Vineyard,
Mrs. pallavi Moore

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