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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Walter Gardener<waltergardener1@gardener.com>
Reply-To: waltergardener@gardener.com
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 14:47:55 -0700
Subject: Good day to you

Good day to you.I am Mr. Walter Gardener husband to late Susan Gardener, an Ex British Petroleum plc Contractor who died on a plane crash on a vacation to Canary Islands,Spain,Wednesday,20 August,2008.We were married with no child and i decided not to remarry since i’m now old. When my wife was alive,she deposited $18.5M with a Bank here in London which she intended to use for a charity project.The bank wrote me a week ago to come and claim this money as the next of kin.I can’t do this myself because i am presently in the hospital here in London where i have been taking treatments for cancer of the lungs for the past one year.The Doctor told me that i have only but few weeks to live that is why i decided to look for a sincere person like you who can use this fund to run a charity home for Orphaned Children according to my wife's wish.I'll legally authorize the bank to release the fund to you on my behalf as the Stand in next of kin once you agree and promise me that you will honestly carry out this charity work with 90% of this funds to the glory of God while you keep 10% for your service.I need your quick reply. Kindest regards,Mr. Walter Gardener.

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