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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.Margaret Dotley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmargaretdotely@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 21:51:08 -0000
Subject: Please Make My Last Wish Come True

My Dear Beloved Friend,

Goodday to you and it is good to write you this mail from the depth of my heart
with all sincerity, I am Mrs. Margret Dotley, A widow to the Late Mr.Dotley,
who was a big business merchant in Europe and Asia.

I am 65yrs old and I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which has defile
all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,
according to my doctors and medical experts,i have been transfered to my home country
here in Switzerland and I am afraid that I won't live more than two Months,because of the
pains tyat I am passing through presently and because the cancer stage has gotten to a
very bad stage and right now my days on earth are numbered as i face my last days due to
my ill health situation and I have not particularly lived my life so well,as I never really cared
for anyone (not even myself) but i did best to maintain 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 i am given a second chance to come to this world I would live my
life a different way from how i have lived it before.

The reason why I am contacting you from my sick bed is because I have decided to share my
assets and give alms to the very poor and destitute people in your country and across the nation
as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth for my soul to rest in peace and be
accepted for my last wish to come true . I want to believe that you will be capable of handling this
task for you to receive this funds for charity works and distribute it to the very poor people and
destitute people. I prayed over it, and I am willing to donate the sum of Five Million United State
Dollars ($10,000,000.00 USD) to the less privileged,poor people,destitute people and orphanage
Home through you and I want you to use 80% of this funds to carry out the good works and you will
use 20% for yourself and family support.Please be informed that this funds is deposited with a finance
Security Vaults in London and upon my instruction, the Security Vaults will proceed with their transfer
and delivery Procedures once they get some vital information from you as my true Beneficiary.Lastly, I
want you to keep everything about this transaction very private and secret because there are so many
people that are searching for other ways to claim my assets and last belongings especially my late
husband relatives and friends, I dislike them because they are only interested in my assets and estate.
I honestly pray that when this funds are transferred and delivered to you as the true beneficiary it should
be used for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that money is all vanity when it is not used
for it right purpose to help and affect people life positively. If you are willing to help me,please kindly get
back to me as soon as possible.I await your urgent reply,

Warmest Regards
Mrs.Margret Dotley

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