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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: MRS MARTHA MURRAY <mthmury@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 00:18:08 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From Martha


 Good Day ,

I sincerely know that you will be surprise over this my unexpected contact on you but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility .

My name is Mrs Martha Murray , I am 59 years old woman , I am married to late Mr Karim Murray . my husband die in a fatal motor accident , we were married for many years without a child . Since after the death of my husband I have been battling with breast cancer and my condition is really deteriorating that my doctor courageously told me that I have some few months to live .

When my husband was alive we deposited the sum of $1.5M ( One Million Five hundred dollars ) in a finance institute . The finance institute management just wrote me as the legitimate depositor to inform me of the maturity date of my deposit or rather that I should issue an authorization letter to someone to receive the money on my behalf since I cannot come over as a result of my illness to claim the money or they will get it confiscated .

My reason for contacting you is because I want you or your religious organization to use this fund in all religious sincerity to fund orphanages , widows and destitute homes . I took this decision because I dont have a child or a known relative that will inherit this fund when I die . I am an orphan , I was brought up by the motherless babies home .

As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact information of the finance institute where this money is been deposited together with the documents of the funds and also write an authorization letter to the finance institute on your behalf authorizing them to release the money to you .

May the Almighty God guide you and your family
Mrs. Martha Murray


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