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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: "MISS. MATILDA STALIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <matildastalin01@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 23:57:56 +0100
Subject: Re. THANK YOU....

I'm a Russian citizen, I live in Utah Providence, Presently in United
Kingdom, a female of 23 years old and a 3rd year student of Oxford
University.

My father was in the Precious Stone industry and owned mines in Tanzania.
He also used to deal (buy and sell) in diamonds
from Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo
(former Zaire).It is sad to say that he died of the deadly Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome - AIDS on the 15th July, 2007.Two days
after my father was pronounced HIV positive, my mother Committed
suicide.

Now, I can no longer move freely in the Russian community there in
Utah, as it seems everyone knows my story and i know everyone else is
whispering about me. This development has affected me academically,
physically and Psychologically and I have decided to come over to your
country where I Would have peace to live and further my education
hence my contacting you to assist me to transfer out the sum of $US
5.3Million and 75kilos of gold and diamond which my father deposited
with Security Company here, for my upkeep when it became Obvious he
was going to die.It is like a trust fund.

I intend to invest this money in your business or any other business
you deem viable. However I will appreciate it if you keep my letter
confidential or delete it if you are not interested in my
proposal. However if you decide to help me, you will be rewarded with
20% of the total funds for your efforts if you don't want me as a
wife..

Have a nice day as i wait for your response,
Miss. Matilda Stalin

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