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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: "Galis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <maria.galis@o2.pl>
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2015 19:47:58 +0100
Subject: Greetings in the name of God,

 
Dear Sir,
 
 
Greetings in the name of God,  
 
 
Please forgive me if my plea sounds a little strange or unbelievable to you. My family attorney who could have handled the process of executing my WILL & TESTAMENT on my behalf died early this year after a protracted illness. I therefore prayed fervently and by the special grace of GOD,i got your email ID from your country's guest digest.I am ,a native of ,I am 55 years old. I am suffering from protracted cancer of the lungs which has also affected part of my brain cells due to complications.From all indication, my condition has deteriorated and it is very obvious according to my doctors that i may not live for the next couple of months,I am indeed a shadow of my self.
 
I was orphaned at the age of four and was raised in an orphanage. I was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child.My husband had cardiovascular condition and died of cardiac arrest few years ago.I am a people driven entrepreneur and a very God fearing woman. Steve and I lived in Nigeria for over 18 years,where my husband a petrochemical engineer by profession worked and rose through the ranks to become an executive director with a multinational construction and oil servicing conglomerate, before his demise.He also established huge private investments that i controlled under an executive capacity.
 
Consequent upon the confounding and shocking demise of my priceless husband, i opted as a rule, not to re-marry.when my cancer ailment became terminal & more so because i do not have a next of kin to bequeath all that  I labored for,i sold off all our choice properties and other inherited belongings comprising of a shopping mall,an hotel, shares, bonds,jewelries and other valuable family treasures and deposited the proceeds amounting to USD$10,000,000.00 (10 million DOLLARS ONLY) with . As i write to you, this fund is still deposited with the bank. The management of the bank just wrote me as the sole owner because of the unserviceable status of the fund and suggested to me in a 2 paragraph statement to issue a letter of authorization to someone who can manage the fund on my behalf because of my ill health and also threatened that the fund could be confiscated upon my failure to adhere to their Banking rules and regulations within a stipulated time frame.
 
I am presently on admission at the intensive care unit of a London hospital,located at fulham road in west London United Kingdom. It is the leading cancer treatment hospital in the world and i have been undergoing treatment there for late-stage terminal cancer of the lungs. I am computer literate and was fortunate enough to have my personal laptop with me,hence I am writing from my sick bed. I rarely talk, my doctors told me that I have only few months to live,unless there is a divine intervention.It is my last WISH therefore to see that 85% of this fund is invested in any charitable organization of your choice and administered as you may deem fit, especially to the orphanage homes and homes for destitute and the mentally retarded. you can also extend some part of the funds to churches and mosques and to those struck by natural disaster.I have earmarked 5% of the total fund on cost of administration of WILL & TESTAMENT and also on logistics and other sundry arrangements.
 
I crave your indulgence as a God fearing individual and an uncommon humanitarian,that cares so much about the plight of the less-privileged as much as i do to take it upon yourself and use this fund for the above mentioned purposes,i took this painstaking decision in other to help humanity in my little capacity before i rest in peace in the bosom of GOD almighty.My sojourn on earth will soon be up, according to my physicians.
 
Note that as soon as I receive your reply and personal information as listed below, I shall give you the official contact of the officials,to enable you contact the Bank without delays.I will also issue you with an official letter of authorization,so that my bankers will recognize your status as the new beneficiary of the fund.Interestingly 10% of the total sum is set aside as your compensation for accepting to play this significant role for me and i hope you will appreciate my kind gesture.
 
The letter of authorization will further prove that you are the new beneficiary of my FUND, ESTATE, WILL & TESTAMENT.The fund has an open beneficiary mandate and as such, it is whom i authorize or appoint to act on my behalf that the bank will recognize and release the funds to.Please assure me that you will not treat this offer with levity but will rather hear my cry. you  always contact via this email: (maria.galis@o2.pl)
 
Send the information in this order:
 
(1) Your full names :===================================
 
(2) personal or official contact address:===============================
 
(3) Home or Office phone#:============Cellphone#:==========Fax#:=======
 
(4) Your Age:===============
 
(5)Occupation:===========================
 
(6)Sex/Marital status:========================
 
Awaiting your kind response while craving your appreciation of my predicament.
 
Sincerely Yours,
 
Maria Galis

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