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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 FAREEDA FARAH <mrsfareedafarah16@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 03:57:44 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear

Dear,

It's my pleasure to have contact with you, based on the critical condition
I find myself, though it's not financial problem but my health. you might
have know that cancer is not what to talk home about, though I don't know
you and my contact with you was not by mistake, but by divine favor of God.
I am married to Mr. Robert Farah who worked with Tunisia embassy in Ghana
for nine years before his death in the year 2008.We were married for eleven
years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for five
days.

Since his death I decided not to remarry, When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of US$ 10.5m(Ten million Five hundred thousand dollars)in
a bank in Accra-Ghana, West-Africa the capital city of Ghana-Accra in west
Africa Presently this money is still in bank. He made this money available
for exportation of Gold from Ghana mining. Recently, My Doctor told me that
I don't have much time to live because of the cancer problem. Having known
my condition I decided to hand you over this money to take care of the
less-privileged people, you will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein. I want you to take 30 Percent of the total money for your
personal use While 70% of the money will go to charity" people and helping
the orphanage.

I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by the Government. I grew up
as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, just to Endeavor
that the name of God is maintained. Am doing this so that God will forgive
my sins and accept my soul because this sickness has suffered me so much.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in
Accra-Ghana and I will send authority letter that will prove you the
present beneficiary of the money in the bank that is, if you assure me that
you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply.

Best Regards,
Mrs.Fareeda Farah
Written from Hospital.
Email:mrsfareedafarah99@yahoo.com

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