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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: "Mrs.Shimshai Mohammed" <shimshai1@live.com>
Reply-To: <infooo@zambia.co.zm>
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:05:47 -0500
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU!!!.

Blessings,
I am not feeling too fine and presently battling with Cancer and Fibroid. My Doctor has just informed me that I have only 2 month to live due to my ailment. Having known my condition I decided to donate my deposits valued at 8.5M to either a charity/orphanage home or devoted God fearing individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct. Please respond if you can help me in carrying out this humanitarian service,I mean no offense but any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for an individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act according to specification herein.
 
 
All I require is your honest co-operation, a guarantee of your sincerity and capability to enable us concludes this deal. Note however that the sensitive nature of this transaction demands that you have to keep it absolutely confidential. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this proposition.
 
Mrs.Shimshai Mohammed

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