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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrs_mcneil60@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:59:15 -1100
Subject: Please can you help?

Dearest One,

I am Mrs. Abigail McNeill, I was married to McNeill a seasoned Contractor in
major countries here in Europe. Before he died in the year 2002 we were
married for eleven years without a child,he died after a Brief illness. After
his Death, I adopted a child but he died in a ghastly auto accident that
almost took my life too. When my late husband was alive, he executed a
contract in Russia amounting to the sum of Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars which has not been paid till date,though i have been
informed to come for the funds but due to my health i am not able to proceed.


My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months because i
have been diagnosed with cancer. Having known my condition I decided to donate
these funds to better the lives of the less privileged. I need honest and
trust worthy individual that will utilize this Money in accordance With my
instruction's want the funds to be used in Organizations, Orphanages and less
privileged.


I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit all this
Money and my husband relatives are very unkind to me and I don't Want my
Husband’s hard-earned money to be misused.


As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the Contact of my attorney
here in the UK who will also Issue you a letter of authority that will empower
you as the Original-Beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for
me, any delay in your Reply will give me room in sourcing for another
individual for this same purpose.

Thanks
Yours sincerely
Abigail McNeill

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