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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. Judy Helliwell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsjudyhell01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:34:19 -0000
Subject: Good Morning ..??? Can i give Your the Trust

Dear Beloved One,
 
I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life, but I feel quite safe dealing with you. Though this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused I choose to reach you through it because it remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. However, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such. I am contacting you based on Trust and Confidentiality I have reposed higher confidence in your ability to handle this matter perfectly for my sake
 
I am Mrs. Judy Helliwell an American citizen who lived in South Africa; I am suffering from a protracted cancer of the lungs and have couple of months to live. I urgently need an honest individual I can confide my inheritance
 
Am 65 years old, a widow to late Mr. John Helliwell without any family members and no child who was the President of agricultural equipment giant AGCO Corp, in South Africa
 
After going through some files of my late husband, I discovered Deposit Certificate of ($4.7 Million) with a bank here South Africa.  But due to my sickness, I have not been able to  claim this fund from the Bank, as I have  been in the hospital for some years now, I am suffering from  a protracted cancer of the lungs .
I am contacting you based on trust to present you to the Bank as my Next of Kin and Bonfire Inheritor to my Late Husbands fund, He made me promise that it should be used for humanitarian work. We have no children you see, and my husband didn't want his brother to inherit it. This money is currently being held by the bank, awaiting the proper recipient. It is up to me to decide who will gain access to it. If you promise me that you will use this money to achieve the wish of my Husband and I, then I will instruct the bank to release the contents of the vault in your name. since I cannot claim this fund myself now and I may not live beyond next six-eight months according to my Doctors, but I have the faith in God that I will live more than the months
Im with my laptop in the hospital where I have been undergoing treatment in South Africa. Please! Please!! Your help is needed to avoid this money been diverted to the Government of South Africa as unclaimed fund/dormant account. Imagine somebody who has no child,
Following information to enable me validate you as the legal beneficiary of this fund
 
1.  Your full names..............
2. Mobile phone number/home phone number/office phone number........
3. Your Age................
4 Your Home Address...........
5. Your Marital status................
6.  Your occupation   name & address..............
7. Name of your next of kin........................
 
I WANT TO FUND CHARITY HOMES THROUGH YOU WITH MY MONEY OPEN THE ATTACH
 
You are not going to pay my family lawyer because i have already taken care of Him concerning this project
 
This information will help my lawyer get you the entire document to enable you become the true beneficiary to this fund.
Your assistant will be highly appreciated.
Thanks and God bless.
Mrs. Judy Helliwell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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