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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: "Mrs. Margaret Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gehamr.mikhael@yahoo.co.th>
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2015 15:44:03 -0800
Subject: Happy new year beloved

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I am Mrs. Margaret Lewis, the wife of Mr. Robert Lewis;
both of us are citizens of the United States Of America. My husband
worked with the Chevron/Texaco OIL COMPANY in Bangkok Thailand for
twenty years before he died. We were married for ten years without a
child. My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four
days. Presently, I'm in a hospital in Bangkok Thailand where I have
being undergoing treatment for throat cancer I have since lost my ability to talk.

I have a charitable offer the sum of 7.5 Million Dollars which I inherited from my late husband.
I want a person that is God-fearing who will use this money to fund churches,orphanages and
widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.
The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money
and my late husband relatives are into radical organization and I don't want a
situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner, Hence the reasons for
this bold decision. I kept this deposit secret till date. I don't think I will need
any telephone communication in this regard because of the confidentiality of this transfer.
Upon your reply I shall give you the contact of my bank. I will also issue a letter of
authorization to the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money.

I want you to send me the following information’s as per below.

Your Full names-----------------------
Your Address--------------------------
Your Country--------------------------
Your Age------------------------------
Your Occupation-----------------------
Your Telephone------------------------

Await your responds God bless you,

Your Sister in Christ,
Mrs. Margaret Lewis.

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