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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: Lorena Benzel <lorenabenzel1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:35:10 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Beloved


 BelovedI Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ I am Mrs. Lorena Benzel,a 52yrs old widow to late Mr.Chresteli Benzel,from Switzerland. I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, and from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I might not live up to 3 months, according to my doctors.
This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband died last year, and during the period of our marriage we could produce any child.My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth; Based on the doctors reports that I might not live up to three months. My late husband family intentions to allow me die in this condition because I do not have a child, that what pushed me to source for a Godly person abroad who will make this claim of 2.8 Million dollars which we deposited in a security firm here.
I will give you all the information you will need to make this claim of this fund once I receive a positive response from you and also your assurance that you will not betray this confidence that I am reposing in you. I am doping this because my family are unbelievers and I will not allow them inherit this money for their own selfishness. I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Jesus Christ is a vanity.  Your sister in ChristMrs. Lorena Benzel,

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