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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: "Mrs. Sheldon Mark." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mgamboa.investor@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 23:48:54 +0300
Subject: I Need Your Assistance.

 
Dearly Beloved,
 
I wish to tender my apology to you for contacting you via this medium even though we never had any previous dealing before, but I believe this is very direct and safe.
My name is Mrs.Sheldon Mark from George Town in Cayman Island. I am 70yrs old, I lived in Manchester London for the rest of my life .I was into active business, I was before this time a big time merchant, I have several industries, share in various London stock Market. I spent all my life on investment and corporate businesses. I was a tight friend of late Nina Wang of Hong Kong the richest woman in Asia who passed on 2007, I benefited and as well learnt quiet a lot from late Ms Wang.
I was a very greedy and selfish woman.
 
I care less about people other than my business which i does in a callous  and inhumane manner. I don't even believe that god exist let alone people. what I believe in is my wealth, fame and power. In fact I am worth about GBP 65 Million pounds both cash and in assets.
Just last Month to be precise, I went for my routine medical check up at saint Ebba,s memorial Hospital U.K, and was diagnosed a strange illness which the doctor said i have just few days to spend here on earth. It was then it dawned on me that life is nothing but a full of illusion. I took a total inventory of my enormous wealth and life spent and discovered that all is vanity. what came on my mind is what will happen to them all when i am gone because i do not have any next of kin and i began to show remorse about my past wicked actions.
That night I had a dream that revealed to me all my past wrong and wicked doings, love and unquenchable quest for Money and power, wickedness to mankind etc. In the dream an immaculate person with a white robe appeared to me and simply said that my time is up, that I shall go back to the world and give out all that I have acquired and get ready to join my maker. however he told me that I have been forgiven of my past wrong doings and that is the happiest part of the encounter.
Next morning just like it was ordained by god, one pastor came with his evangelical team to preach in the hospital and I quickly drew his attention to my case. he prayed for me and formerly led me to Christ. Now I want to make my "Will" while i am alive. I have decided to use my wealth to affect several lives any where in the world and to do this I need noble and kind hear-ted people like you who will oversea the mission possible when am gone.
I have determined to distribute my wealth and give hope to the motherless homes, old people home and abandoned babes, the hopeless who are facing hardship in life, Natural disaster and war victims of Asia, Syria, and Africa, etc.
I beleive that someone like you assign to this mission and committed in Christ, will not stop so low to disappoint, derail in this kind of charitable, social and humanitarian task for no reason whatsoever hence am contacting you to entrust this wealth under your loving palms. I need your approval and full consent prior to your inclusion in my attested Will which i am drafting now.
To assure me of your legal consent to this task, please furnish me in your return mail the following information:
 
1) Your full name and address
2) Your age and occupation(very important)
3) Your direct contact telephone.
Please note that my time are already numbered.
 
I am waiting only to do things right and correct my past mistakes which will put me in peace and closeness with  God by following this divine instruction in other to be guaranteed a place in Heaven after am dead.
 
Remain blessed as you reply.
 
Mrs. Sheldon Mark.
 

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