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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: "Mary hartmut" <maryhartmut@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: maryhartmut@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:58:00 +0100 (WAT)
Subject: Waiting to hear from you.

My name is Mrs. Mary Hartmut widow, presently admitted in the hospital
suffering from the deadly blood disease known as cancer, I am now in deep
PAINS after having my left breast cut off which resulted to the blockage
of my tissues and my right breast is discharging pouse. According to my
Doctor, he said that my health condition is bad and that I have less than
a month to die. What kind of news to me?

In any case, I found your email address through my late husband data, late
Eng. Hartmut. The sum of US$6,000,000 (Six Million United States Dollars)
was left in bank for my treatment by my late husband before he died after
being poisoned.

Knowing it vividly that my death is very close, I wish to know if I can
trust you to use this fund for charity project in my name as God directed
me in my dream. It will also please my spirit if investment into church
support programs will be included.

I would like you to get back to me without delay to enable me sign the
WILL in your favor and introduce you to our account officer as the
accredited beneficiary.

God bless you.

Mrs. Mary Hartmut.

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