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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: Mercy Anna <manwaz560@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mercy Anna <amercy560@sina.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:10:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: My Intention


Hello Dear.

Thanks for your attention, my name is Mercy Anna I was married to Late Dr. Donald Mayers who was an oil merchant, We were married for eighteen years with one son but our son died with my husband on the airplane crash Before he died, we deposited the sum of (Eight Million three hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) in a Bank and this money is still with the Bank.

In 2012 I started suffering cancer, fibroid problems and hearing impairments. Recently, my Doctor told me that I will die soon because of the complications with the cancer problem. Therefore I decided to donate this money to a reliable individual who will use the Fund to build orphanage home and help the poor. I have decided to e-mail you, that is based on trust and you’re outstanding to seek for your consent so that I will bequeath the Fund to you for this project and I have no doubt about your capacity and your goodwill to manage this fund as I directed you 

I am taking this decision because I do not have anybody that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives have been very hostile and unkind to me since after my husband's death. I do not have any trace to any of my family relatives because my parents eloped to United Kingdom due to war and never mentioned home till they all died. If I do not will this money to anyone, the Bank will take it. So I want to bequeath it to you so that you can use it as i directed you.
 
For legitimacy, I will also give you a letter of authority (Power of attorney) that will establish you as my appointed beneficiary to this money. If you delay in replying this mail, I will look for another individual that will accept to use this money as I directed here.

Remain blessed
Mercy Anna

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