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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 PAMELA DOTLEY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pameladotley2447@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 19:36:09 -0400
Subject: GOOD DAY PLEASE VERY URGENT

My Dear Friend,

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.Pamela Dotley the wife of late Mr.Dotley
who was a merchant in Hong Kong and Japan.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. Dotley

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