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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: "Lowe Harry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <loweharry@loweharry.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:14:49 -0700
Subject: PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO USE IT ON CHURCHES AND ORPHANAGES

Dearly Beloved,

An British Citizen, Mrs. Lowe Harry a missionary born in London.

I am Mrs. Lowe Harry from London United Kingdom, I was married to late Mr. Patrick Harry the CEO of PATCAT Oil Mining & Exploration, I am 58 years old, I am suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which has affected my talking & hearing lately. The cancer has reached a critical stage, so my doctors have courageously advised me to indulge in Prayers as well because it is clear that I would not live past the next two to three months. I was raised in an orphanage Home, and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child.

My husband and I are true Christians so after his death I decided not to re-marry, he died in a fatal motor accident which I know is political motivated because of his venture in the new oil industry. I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of 2,300,000.00Pounds with a Bank. Presently, the money is still with the bank, and I received a letter from the management of the holding bank as the real depositor urging me to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for such a long or rather issue a letter of approval or power of attorney to somebody to receive it on my behalf or the management will confiscate the funds.

Frankly, I can not come over as a result of my illness; I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any Charitable Organization of your choice and distributed each year among the Charity organizations and Orphanages, so I want a good humanitarian to use this money to fund Churches, Needy and Widows in your Country but preferably in London. I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue, and I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall use the little money I have for my drugs to procure and issue you a letter of authority which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds and I shall release the contact of the Bank to you.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. I hope to hear from you soonest if you are willing to handle this project

Awaiting your urgent reply as soon as possible to my private Email
(harry@loweharry.com)

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Lowe Harry.

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