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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: Marois <mrsnicolemarois3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsnicole_marois1960@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 15:34:15 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: HELP YOURSELF IF YOU ARE HOLY.




Dear Friend,
 
As you read this letter, please don’t feel bad. Because i believe everyone will die some day, i am a merchant in the U.A.E, and I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer which was discovered very lately, due to my Laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and presently i have only about few days to live, according to medical experts. I have never particularly lived my life so well, as i never really cared for anyone but my business. Though i am very rich but never generous, I was always hostile to people, and i only focused on my business as that was the only thing i Cared for. But now i regret all this as i now know that there is more to life than making all the money in the world, I now seek repentance.
 
I believe when god gives me a second chance to come to this world i will live my life in a different way from how i lived before. Now that god has called me through this way, i have willed and given out most of my Properties and assets to my immediate and extended family, and few close friends. I want god to be merciful to me and accept my soul, and so i have decided to give arms to charity organizations, as i want this to be one of the last good deeds i did on earth as a repentance of me.
 
So far, i have distributed so much money to charity organization in U.A.E, In Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. I once asked my family members to close one of my accounts and distribute the funds which i had given to charity Organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they lied and kept the money to themselves. Since i do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be trustworthy and content with what i have left for them. The last of the funds which no one knows of, is the huge cash deposit of six million, two hundred thousand united states dollars ($6.200.000.00) in Burkina faso, with bank of africa. I want to know if you can be of good help to dispatch the fund to charity Organizations.
 
If you desire, return back to me immediately before death crosses my way so that I can send to you a copy of my international passport and the document that you will show to the bank to make the bank know that I instructed you to contact them for the transfer of my fund to you.
 
I have instructed the bank to transfer the money to the first foreigner that will apply to the bank hereafter; I have set  aside 30% percent for your time ,patience and any expenses that you may in cure along the way. May god be with you as you decide to take a bold step to heal the world with me.
Best regards
Mrs Nicole Marois

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