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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. Angela Benjamin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsangelabenn1@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 22:30:53 +0800
Subject: Your Urgent Assistance is Needed

Dearest Beloved,
I am Mrs Angela Benjamin , age 71 wife of Late Mr George Morris Benjamin  we are both British Citizen. My husband worked as Senior Manager with an Oil Company  for Twenty Eight years before he died in the year 2005. We were married for Thirty Five years without a child.
My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians and after his death I decided not to  re-marry. Before my husband died, he had  a cash Investment of 15 Million United Dollars (Fifteen Million United State Dollars) which he made me the Beneficiary.Presently I am  in Malaysia where I am undergoing treatment for breast cancer and cancer of the blood. I have since lost my  ability to move around and my doctors have told me that I have only a few weeks to live as my condition worsen each day.
Before my husband died, it was his last wish to ensure that this money be distributed to charity across World  it is for this reason I humbly request you to  help me Stand and receive this payment of 15 Million United States Dollars in which I have decided to give you  5 Million United States Dollars for your effort and any expenses you may incurred when receiving this payment while the balance 10 Million United Dollars should be  distributed for Charity to take  care of orphanages, widows, disaster Victims . I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband made me the sole beneficiary of this  payment because he is the only child of his parent.
The doctor will not allow me to talk to anybody but I have a lawyer who knows my family for over 20 years and has always come to see me and also pray for me, I have entrusted him with vital information which you will require in order to receiving this payment. I will give you the lawyer name  email address and telephone number  immediately after you reply to this mail. I want you to make time out of your very busy schedule and see to the success of receiving this payment within the shortest period of time because the directors of the investment company where the fund is logged may use the fund for their  selfish purpose in case anything happen to me. I  also want you to reply this mail as soon as possible, please remember to indicate
(1) Your Full Name,
(2)  Your Contact Address
(3) Your Telephone (Cell Phone, Home Phone and Fax Number)
(4) Your Age and What You Do for a Living.
I hope to hear from you soonest. Please reply to  mrsangelabenn1@yahoo.com.ph
Thank you and God Bless you.
Best Regards
Mrs Angela Benjamin

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