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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. Alfreda Smith" <mrs.afredasmith001@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:06:30 +0000
Subject: Re: I AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.

ATTN: Good Friend,

Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You
Human, Failures keeps You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only
God keeps You Going! You are so special! this Year 2015!

My name is Mrs Alfreda Smith a British merchant in Caribbean Island. I
have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which was discovered very
late, due to my laxity in caring for my health. This sickness has
defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few
months to live, according to medical experts. I have since lost my
power of speech and can only manage to write now; as that has been the
only way I am able to communicate.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared
for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I
was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on
my business as that is the only thing I cared for. But now I regret
all, as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to
have or make all the money in the world. I believe when the Almighty
gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a
different way from how I have lived it.

Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of my
properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and
as well as a few close friends. I want nature and the Almighty God in
Heaven to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided
to give the remains of my wealth to charity organizations, as I want
this to be one of the last good deeds I did on earth.

So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the
Caribbean Island, London and Ireland. Now that my health has
deteriorated so badly, I cannot do it myself any more. I once asked
members of my family to close one of my accounts in Switzerland and
donate the money in the account to the motherless/charity homes across
Africa, Europe and America organizations, they refused and kept the
money to themselves. I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to
be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money
which only few of them knows of is the (U.S$6.5Million) cash deposit
that I have with a financial firm. I will want you to help me collect
this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and please
earn only 20% of the money as your fee for the distribution.

Please let me know if you are interested in helping me out. May the
Almighty remain with you as you do.

Regards,

Mrs Alfreda Smith

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