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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: "Angle" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rachelangle00@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 18:14:11 +0100
Subject: DEAREST BELOVED

DEAREST IN THE LORD, I AM SORRY IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE BULK/SPAM FOLDER KINDLY MOVE IT TO INBOX

I AM WRITING THIS MAIL TO YOU WITH TEARS AND SORROWS FROM MY HEART. WITH DUE
RESPECT, TRUST AND HUMANITY, I APPEAL TO YOU TO EXERCISE A LITTLE PATIENCE
AND READ THROUGH MY LETTER. I FEEL QUITE SAFE DEALING WITH YOU IN THIS
IMPORTANT CALL.

I AM MRS. RACHEL ANGLE FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 64 YEARS OLD, 6FIT
TALL, FAIR, MARRIED TO A CITIZEN OF ENGLAND. I CAME TO THE INTERNET BECAUSE
I NEEDED A FRIEND I COULD TRUST, TO HELP ME SEE THE NEED OF LESS-PRIVILEGES
IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM DEAF AND SUFFERING FROM A LONG TIME CANCER OF THE
BREAST WHICH ALSO AFFECTED MY BRAIN, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS THEY HAVE
ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE
CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.

I WAS BROUGHT UP FROM A MOTHERLESS BABIES HOME AND WAS MARRIED TO MY LATE
HUSBAND FOR TWENTY YEARS WITHOUT A CHILD. MY LATE HUSBAND DIED IN A FATAL
MOTOR ACCIDENT. I SOLD ALL MY INHERITED BELONGINGS AND DEPOSITED ALL THE SUM
OF $1.6 MILLION DOLLARS WITH A SECURITY FIRM.

PRESENTLY,I'M WITH MY LAPTOP IN A HOSPITAL WHERE MY DOCTORS HAVE TOLD ME
THAT I HAVE ONLY A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE. IT IS MY LAST WISH TO SEE THAT THIS
MONEY IS INVESTED TO ANY ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE AND DISTRIBUTED EACH
YEAR AMONG THE CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE POOR AND THE MOTHERLESS BABIES'
HOME WHERE I COME FROM. I WANT YOU TO USE THIS MONEY TO FUND, ORPHANAGES AND
WIDOWS. I TOOK THIS DECISION BEFORE I REST IN PEACE BECAUSE MY TIME WILL
SOON BE UP.

AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR REPLY I SHALL GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE BANK.
PLEASE ASSURE ME THAT YOU WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY AS I STATED HEREIN. HOPING TO
HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

MRS. RACHEL ANGLE

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