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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: <ginger@gametime.com>
Reply-To: walterashdownlaw2011@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:25:47 +0200
Subject: PLEASE READ,GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Maria Johnson.I am a dying woman who had decided to donate what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything he worked for.I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to the you for the good work of God,rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly.I will be going in for an operation,and I pray that i survive the operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000(Ten million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord,and to help the motherless,less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.

Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you.I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly,and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address (walterashdownlaw2011@hotmail.co.uk) if you are interested in carrying out this task,so that he can arrange the release of the funds ($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's name is Barrister Walter Ashdown.I know I have never met you but my mind tells me to do this,and i hope you act well.

Thank you and God bless you.

Maria Johnson

The contents of this message and any attachments are proprietary, confidential and/or legally privileged, and are intended solely for the use of the person(s) intended to receive this message. If you are not the intended recipient, then please be aware that any use of this message (including any copying, archiving, dissemination or distribution of this message) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender, delete this message and any attachments and destroy all records and copies of it. Thank you.

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