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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: Laura Wood <lauwood01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: lauramwood1@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:04:07 +0000
Subject: From Laura Wood

Hi My Dear Friend ....

My dear, How are you? Hopefully you are fine, meanwhile I know that
this message will come to you as a surprise. I hoped that you will not
expose or betray this trust and
confident that I am about to repose on you. My name is, Mrs Laura M.
Wood. I am 36 years old widow, female, from Tartu Syria, I am 4.75
meters tall, (widow) 61 kg, white in complexion, and I am currently
living in the refugee camp here in the Abidjan Ivory Coast, under the
United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR ) as a result of
the
civil conflict war fought in my country, Syria.

My late beloved Husband Mr. Hassan J. Wood was a renowned businessman
and owner of Al Sa'Edi Petrol Station in Syria; he was killed in a
stampede riot in Tartu, Syria.

When I got the news about my Husband, I fled to a near by country
Jordan before I joined a ferry to Africa and came down to Abidjan
capital city in Ivory Coast find safety here. I came in 2013 to
Abidjan and I now live in refugee camps here as refugees are allowed
freely to enter here without, My late Husband deposited
(US$8.900,000.00m Eight Millon Nine Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars Only) My late Husband kept the money in a better Bank here, I
want you to help me transfer the said money to your hand so that you
will help me in investment purposes and bring me into your country to
continue my future life with you. I promise to obey and respect you.

I sent my pictures here for you to see. I am seriously looking for
your cordial help as a good-person in my life, so I want to hear from
you soon and learn more about you, because
I have many things to say, when you reply, they I will explain more
about me to you.

I am an open-minded and friendly lady to share a good time with you
and have fun and enjoy on the go, bird watching, the rest of our
lives. My Hobbies, tourism books, dance, music, soccer, tennis,
swimming and cinema. I would just think about you, including your dose
and doesn’t. I believe we will do well together, and live like one
family. I beg you to consider my situation and help me to actualize my
future dream. As soon as you confirm your acceptance to assist me with
the transfer of the money into your account, then I will send you my
contact details in case if you want to discuss something importany
with me on phone.

In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message
indicating your ability and willingness of helping me sincerely.

Thank you and God bless you, for you in your promise to help me here,
looking forward to your kindly reply by the grace of God and have a
good day. I hope you send me your photos as well? I await your next
reply in faith please reply through my private email at
(laurammood@gmail.com):
Thanks,
Mrs. Laura.

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