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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: Fatima Farah <sss.wood@charter.net>
Reply-To: fatimafarah010@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 May 2015 04:37:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: From Mrs. Fatima Farah



From Mrs. Fatima Farah

Dear God's elect,

I am writing this mail to you with heavy tears in my eyes and great
sorrow in my heart, My Name is Fatima Farah. And am contacting you from
my country Tunisia I want to tell you this because i don’t have any
other option than to tell you as i was touched to open up to you, I am
married to Mr. Toyo Farah who worked with Tunisia embassy in South
Africa for nine years before he died in the year 2010.We were married
for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that
lasted for only five days. Since his death I decided not to remarry,
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$ 8.2m (Eight
million two hundred thousand dollars) in a bank in Pretoria the capital
city of South Africa. Presently this money is still in bank. He made
this money available for exportation of Gold from South Africa mining.

Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the period of
seven months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my
stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to hand you over
this money to take care of the less-privileged people, you will utilize
this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want you to take 30
Percent of the total money for your personal use While 70% of the money
will go to charity" people in the street and helping the orphanage. I
grew up as an Orphan and i don't have anybody as my family member, just
to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. Am doing this so that
God will forgive my sins and accept my soul because this sickness has
suffered me so much. As soon as i receive your reply I shall give you
the contact of the bank in South Africa and I will also instruct my
lawyer to issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present
beneficiary of the money in the bank that is if you assure me that you
will act accordingly as I Stated herein.

Hoping to hear from you .

Mrs. Fatima Farah.

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