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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: MARIANA TINIRAU <mmtinirau@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2013 10:48:56 +0100
Subject: Greeting


Greeting

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you,but please
consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am
giving you my trust And wish you will give me back the trust i have given
you. I believe that you will be Honest to fulfill my final wish before I
will die.

I am Mrs.Mariana Tinirau from France. I currently undergoing medical
treatment here Cote d’Ivoire, I am 59 years old, I am suffering from a long
time Cancer of the breast.

>From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my Doctors
have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond next month, this is
Because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage.

I was brought up in a Motherless baby’s home, and was married to my late
husband for twenty years Without a child. My husband and I are true
Christians, but quite unfortunately, he Died in a fatal motor accident.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry, my late husband Deposited the
sum of $6. 650, 000.00 US Dollars with a Financial Company.

Presently, this Money is still in their custody, and the management just
wrote me as the legitimate Depositor to inform me of the maturity date of
my deposit or rather issue a letter of Authorization to somebody to receive
it on my behalf since I can not come over as a Result of my illness, or
they get it confiscated.

It is my last wish to see that this money is been invested into a very good
LUCRATIVE VENTURE of your choice that will be giving out proceeds to be
distributed each year Among the charity organization, the poor and the
motherless baby’s, orphanage Homes and widows around.

I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, But I had to take a
bold step towards this issue because I have no further option.

I hope you will help me see that my last wishes come true.

Please kindly write me back for more detail.
Reply me in this email address (mrs.mariana2011@hotmail.fr)

Yours in Christ,
Mrs.Mariana Tinirau

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