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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: =?UTF-8?B?TXJzLiBEaWFuZSBBa8Op?= <officefile583@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mme.dianek@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 16:14:34 +0000
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?RnJvbSBNcnMuIERpYW5lIEFrw6ku?=

Dearest in the Lord,

With all due respect and humanity, I was compelled to write to you
under a humanitarian ground. I am Mrs. Diane Aké, an ageing widow
suffering from long time illness (Cancer). I am currently admitted in
a private hospital. Please, I have some fund which I inherited from my
late husband Mr. Michel Aké, who later died in 2009 after a brief
illness that lasted for only 4 four days.

When my husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($2.400.000.00) Two
Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) in a Bank. Presently, this
money is still in the bank. Now, I need a very honest and God fearing
person that can use these funds for God's work. My late husband
instructed that this fund should be use for charity purpose such as to
build a schools, orphanages homes, hospitals and to create job
opportunity for the jobless ones etc.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this money and I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul.
With God all things are possible. If you would be able to use these
fund for the Lord's work, please kindly reply me as soon as you
received this message. Hoping to receive your reply and Remain bless
in the Lord.

Yours sister in the Lord.
Mrs. Diane Aké.

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