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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 Susan Williams" <susanwillim1@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: MrsSusanWilliam@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 19:02:37 +0800
Subject: Hello Dear Good Friend In Christ.............

Hello Dear......

I am Mrs Susan William from Switzerland, I am married to Late Mr Anthony
Williams of blessed memory, he was well known for Cocoa exportation from Cote
Ivoire to Switzerland for through out his life before he died in the year 2008.

We were married for 23 years without a child. Before his sudden death, my late
husband deposited the sum of £3,200.000, Pounds GBPS) in a suspense account
with one of the bank in Ivory Coast using my name as the beneficiary since we
could not bear a child.

Presently this money is still with the bank in Ivory Coast and i am very sick
from cancer of the lungs despite the fibroid and tumor which denied me a child
when my husband was alive. Recently, i was informed my doctors that i may not
last till the next two months

Because i have no child to inherit this money, i have decided to donate this
fund to the less privileged ones and build an orphanage for the motherless
babies, i have choose you to assist me in using this money for the purpose
which i mentioned above after making several prayer consultations.

I will be very happy wherever i will be tomorrow if you will be sincere and
honest with me and use the money accordingly for the purpose which i suggested.

My situation in the hospital is critical and i cannot walk with my two legs as
i am writing you now. I will like you to reply me immediately so that i will
give you the details of the bank and the account information's and i will
introduce you to the bank as my partner so that they will release the money to
you for the suggested purpose.

I am waiting to read from you soon, remain blessed.

Mrs Susan William.

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