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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.Patricia Obeirne Butler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.patriciaobeirne_b@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:35:36 +0100
Subject: URGENT HELP FOR MY LAST WISH!...sa

Dear Beloveth,

Goodday to you and it is good to write you this mail
with all sincerity,i am sorry to disturb you but i just
felt deeply in my heart that you are that individual
that i have been looking for and so i can
contact you for a blessing that you are about to
receive through this and also share with
other destitute individuals that need it ,my name is
Mrs.Patricia Obeirne Butler the wife of late Mr.Butler
who was a merchant in Hong Kong and Switzerland.I have
been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .It has defile
all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have
only about a few months to live,according to medical
experts.I have not particularly lived my life so well,
as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself)but
my late husband business.Though me and my late husband
was very rich,we
were never Generous, I was always hostile to people and
only focused on our 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 just wanting to have or
make all the money in the world. I believe when God
gives me a second chance to come to this world I would
live my life a different way from how i have lived it.
Now that
God has called me,I have willed and given most of my
property and assets to my immediate and extended family
members as well as a few close friends.I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul so,I have decided to
give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to
be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. I want to
believe that you will be capable of handling this task
for me.I will wait to hear from you to know if you are
capable of doing this favour for me,May peace be with
both of us as you decide to do this for me .I will wait
for your urgent response

Warmest Regards,
Mrs.Paricia

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