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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: Mary Abdul <mremery@zoominternet.net>
Reply-To: Mary Abdul <henrihessel2@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 09:55:34 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: IN NEED OF HELP





Dear Sir/Ma.
First of all let me start by extending my greetings to you and your household. My name is Mary Abdul, I was born a Muslim but after I attended a crusade been invited by a friend of my in Al-Qa'im, I received Christ into my life and I invited my dad to attend the crusade because of his illness that has been with him for some time and he was heal by the prayer made from the preacher, that very day, my whole families where converted into Christian.
Not long after 3 years that our church was attack by some Muslim group, they born the church, kill 38 people that attended the church warship service that very day including my families, I was the only survival, as I am writing this mail to you, Our home have been born and destroy by them, I have to run for my life to a close city where I need to hide myself, this place also is not save, some US ARMY was also killed just last week who are here for rescue.
Sir/Ma, the main reason why I contact you is to help me get out of here, Before my father died with my families, we have a family heritage fund that usually been given to each elder in the families and my father was the only survival in there fathers families, this fund was secretly handed to a family friend here who have a connection with a security deposit firm in Holland, he was also killed during this christain war outbreak down here in Iraq in case you are not familiar with this kindly log on to this website http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-christians-persecuted-by-isis-60-minutes/ , I need your help to get the fund out from Holland for me and also to bring me out from here, I do not mind anywhere you wish to keep me provided I am save and free from this country, The fund is a total of $5.5 Million United State Dollars, It was resulted from the families inheritance and land occupant.
I look forward for your urgent response. I do come to this store to check my email twice dally, I will check back to reply you.
May the lord be with you as you find it in your heart to help me.
Mary Abdul

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