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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. Margaret Bennett" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <karechurcher23@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 10:23:15 -0300
Subject: 58........PLEASE REPLY URGENT.

Greeting in the Name of God
 
 
I am Mrs. Margaret Bennett, A widow to the Late Mr.Joshua Bennett, I am 65
yrs old, I am a new Christian convert working as a missionary in Africa before
I was urgently transfer to my home country here in  United Kingdom,I  am
suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication my condition
is really Deteriorating and I am afraid that I won't live more than two Months,
because of the pains I am passing through and because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband was killed during the U.S raid against
terrorism in Afghanistan,and during the period of our marriage we had a 23 yrs
old son who died in an auto crash three years ago. My late husband was very
wealthy and after his death I inherited all his business and wealth. My Doctor
suggested that I will go for a surgery because I have tried so many ways for
solution but no solution, I Hate surgery but I don't have any option than to follow
my doctor instruction for the safety of my life.
 
 
The reason why I am contacting you from my sick bed is because I want to divide
the part of my husband wealth to contribute to the development of the church
and Mosque in Africa, America,and Asia And also in Europe. I prayed over it, and I am
willing to donate the sum of Five Million Great Britain pounds (5,000,000.00 GP) to
the less privileged and orphanage Home through you.My God is the one that directed
me to you and I want you to use 70% this funds to work for God and keep 30% to
yourself. Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a Bank in Africa and upon
my instruction, my Bank will proceed with their transfer Procedures once they get some
vital information from you as my next Beneficiary.
 
 
Lastly, I want you to keep everything about this transaction very private and secret
because there are so many people that are searching a way to claims My Husband
fund especially my husband relatives and friends, I hate them because they only
interested on my husband Fund. I honestly pray that this money when transferred
will be used for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth with
out God  is vanity upon vanity. If you are willing to help me, please  kindly get back to
me as soon as possible.
 
 
May the Grace of our God and the Fellowship of God be with you and your family.
 
 
I await your urgent reply,
 
 
 
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Margaret Bennett

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