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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: =?UTF-8?B?Ik1ycy4gRXZlbHluIE1hcnNoYWxsIg==?= <austinbrendan3@terra.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:

=E2=80=8B 
Greeting: From Mrs. Evelyn Marshall. I am 45 years old f= rom Bolivia. I am a missionary woman working with the United Nations Servic= es under charity organization, my husband was an Engineer with an oil compa= ny in Ivory Coast, In fact it is too sad to let you know that I lost my dea= r husband during the political election crisis in Ivory Coast, After the de= ath of my late husband, I retail from my job to stay with my only son, two = years late I fall sick which have cost me a lot of problem as a result of B= reast Cancer, I have been hospitalize for over some months, after many test= my Doctors have to courageously advise me that with the new test and condi= tion of various in the Breast Cancer, that I may not live long. Since I am = not sure of my living, I have decided to contact you seeking for your assis= tance to guild my only son with the inheritance left in a Security Company = as a family valuable by my late husband.
 
Why I contact you is = that, My son is only but 14 years old and too young to handle this inherite= d CASH of 13.7 million Dollars, which is deposited with a Security Company = as family valuable, I want the security company to move this funds into you= r custody as my next of KIN to enable you help my son future with the fund,= and buy him a house and invest the balance into a good business in your co= untry,  if accepted to take good care of my son in your country with g= ood education,  10% of the total fund will be for you as for your assi= stance, Please I am writing you from my sick bed requesting this urgent hel= p from you, I must let you know that this was a very hard decision for me, = but I have to do this as a sacrifice and take a bold step towards this issu= e because I have no further option, I will be very happy to read from your = interested response to enable me put you in contact with the corresponded B= ank as my only relative family Next OF KIN for the release of the funds int= o your account to enable you help my son future.
 
I wait to hea= r from you and remain blessed. 
Yours Sincerely. 
Mrs. Evel= yn Marshall.

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