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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: Helen Wenger <toshallen147@gmail.com>
Reply-To: helen_wenger@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2015 05:49:52 -0700
Subject: Good Morning

MY DEAR FRIEND

My name is Mrs Helen Wenger I'm a 54 years old woman from Belgium I was a
merchant and owned two businesses in Dubai. I was also married with two
children. My husband and two children died in a car accident four years ago.

Before this happened, my business and concern for making money was all I
live for. I never really cared about other values in life. But since the
loss of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families.I
have been helping orphans in orphanage motherless homes.

I have also donated some money for humanitarian needs in Sudan, South
Africa, Cameroon, etc

I was moving with great pity and compassion that I decided to make this
contribution on assisting people over the world , I kept ($8 Million United
States Dollars) in a long-term deposit in the bank account in london.

Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for
oesophagi cancer at Bright Life Memorial Hospital Belgium I have since lost
my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only few months
to live.

It is my last wish to see this money distribute to victims of orphans in
orphanage homes motherless babies homes and other charity organization. all
relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness,
I cannot live with the agony entrusting this huge responsibility to any of
them.this is my private mail box: (helen_wenger@yahoo.com)

Please, I want you to help me to collect this deposit and distribute it
accordingly.Use your judgment to distribute the money and keep 10% of it to
yourself. Feel free to reimburse yourself when you have the money for any
cost you incur during the process of collecting and distributing the money.

If you are willing to help, please reply as soon as possible. May the good
lord bless you


Regards,
yours sister
Mrs Helen Wenger

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