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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: whiskymarycomfort <whiskymrs.marycomfort@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: whisky_mrs.marycomfort@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 14:06:22 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Pls Can i trust you on this?.







This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused,But I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.
 
Greetings to you and your family in the name of God,in my search for a reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact through prayers and pains taking efforts via searching i made on the internet on my bed side.
 
 I have decided to seek your help in carrying out my last wishes.My name is Mrs. Mary Comfort Whisky, I'm a 52 years old woman and  my Country is  Repulic Of South African widow to Late Dr.Smith Whisky,i was a merchant and owned two businesses in Dubai,i was also married with two children.
 
Precisely on June,2007 while My husband and two children returning from Accra Ghana to Cotonou Benin where he base after a weekend holiday at Labadi beach Hotel, My husband and two children died in ghastly motor accident by running into a stationery Trailer without warning sign. Before this happened,my business and concern for making money was all I care for,i never really cared about other values in life.
 
But since the loss of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families,i have been helping orphans in rphanage/motherless,i have also donated some money for humanitarian needs,only recently I saw on television the colossal loss of properties and livelihood people in Canberra, Australia through fire.
 
I was moved with great pity and compassion that I decided to make this contribution on assisting people over there or any part of the world like Asia/ Europe and America that might still need any financial help,i have kept  ($4.5 million)  in a long-term deposit in a Finance company in Cotonou Benin Republic West Africa.
 
Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for Oesophagi Cancer at International Memorial Hospital Cotonou.
 
I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only few weeks to live,It is my last wish to see this money distributed to victims of the fire outbreak in Australia and other charity organization in the World like i said,i have enclosed for you the Current Photogragh I took below Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness,I cannot live with the agony entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.
 
Upon your return mail I will notify my representing lawyer that you are an old business associate to my late husband to enable him guide you legally for the fund release. Keep 25% of the total sum for your assistance as soon as fund is transferred to your country, and then 75% will be for the accomplishment of this project of charity donations.
 
I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished. below I enclosed to you my current Photograph by my bed side.  Please in your return mail,i will give you the contact of my late husband's Attorney,as he is the person that will assist you to make sure that all due procedures are completed for the transfer of the fund into your private account.As my last Wish,pls follow my instructions.Meanwhile i will require the below informations for record purposes.LIke your Identity Card,Your fll name,Your Telephone no and your Age,Your Occupation as well as your country of Origin.May God bless you and your household. 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of my late Husband's Attorney as he will be the one to assist you in laying claims for this funds .
 
May the ALMIGHTY bless you and your family.
Best Regards,
Mrs.Mary Comfort Whisky 

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