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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: "Patricia Zappa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pathyza@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 16:10:15 -0800
Subject: RE: PLEASE HELP !!!

Dear friend,

Please, let this not sound strange to you for my lawyer who would have done this died late this year. My name is Mrs. Patricia Zappa writing you this letter from the Central Hospitalier d'Universitaire de Bordeaux, France. I am 58years old woman, married for 31years without an issue and at worst suffering cancer of the breast and lung. All my friends ran away from me as my health status worsen. I have NO child of mine; and I was brought up from motherless babies home.

Last week, my panel of doctors' stated, i might not live for the next two months from date as my health conditions defies all medications so far. Oh death!. I shouted. Though, I am not afraid for any time my God calls me home, I strongly believe to be in his bosom forever. My late husband was very wealthy as he worked with Lundin Petroleum, South East Asia, where we lived before death came and took him away from me subsequent to brief heart attack. After his death, I inherited all his wealth amounts US$18.5M which i deposited with an investment bank in Sweden before I board flight to the Central Hospitalier d'Universitaire de Bordeaux where i am undergoing treatment for over one year now.

It is my last wish to see that you invest this US$18.5M wisely in any lucrative business; yearly distributed some quarter among the charity organizations, the poor and the motherless babies' home. I'm taken this decision, before i Rest In Peace because my time will soon be up.

I will give you all necessary info to my bank account details as would be demanded by the bank. The process to receive this amount is very simply and legally allowed. Please state your interest assuring me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Also include your full name and contact details for me while replying this e-mail so we can start the process in earnest.May God bless you.


Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Patricia Zappa

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