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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: mercy kobe <hawthorne_sheila@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 07:44:12 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION; GREETINGS FROM MERCY KOBE [WILLIAMS]






Hello ,

Greetings,
I have something very private that i urgently need to discuss with you.
I know my email may seem a little strange and surprising considering
the fact that we have not met each other before, please understand that
i come in good faith and without any intentions of causing you any
pain or harm. What i am about to discuss with you needs a good sense of
judgement.

Here writes Mrs. MERCY KOBE, suffering from cancerous
ailment.I am married to Godwin Holmes an English man who is dead. My
husband was into private practice all his life before his death. Our
life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without child. My
husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I made a vow to
uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he had
passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical
disability or financial predicament. I can adduce this to the fact that
he needed a Child from this relationship, which never came.

When
my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 15. 5 Million
(15.5Million united states dollars) which were derived from his vast
estates and investment in capital market with his bank here in England .
Presently, this money is still with the Bank. Recently, my Doctor told
me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am
suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in
addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my
family and me, I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to
use this gift which comes from my husband’s effort to fund the upkeep
of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically
challenged children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely
handicapped financially.

It is often said that blessed is the
hand that gives. I took this decision because I do not have any child
that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and
very wealthy persons and I do not want my husband’s hard earned money to
be misused or invested into ill perceived ventures. I do not want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner, hence the
reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I
know where I am going. I know that I am going to be with the giver of
life the Almighty when I eventually pass on. The Almighty will fight my
case and I shall hold my peace. I do not need any telephone
communication in this regard due to my deteriorating health and because
of the presence of my husband’s relatives around me. I do not want them
to know about this development and you should keep this offer private
until the fund has been released to you.

As soon as I receive
your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in England . I will
also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the
original beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I lived a life
worthy of emulation. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein.


KINDLY GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION


1) Your Full Name...........

2) Phone, Mobile number/fax if any.....

3) Company Name, Position And Address........

4) Profession, Age and Marital Status............

5) Scanned Copy Of Your Int'l Passport OR driver's license.............

6) location ..........


May Allah Reward you,

MERCY KOBE



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