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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 Shelly Anna McMahan" <mrsshellyanna@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs Shelly Anna McMahan" <mrsannashelly@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2016 13:54:55 -0700
Subject: Dearly Beloved One.

Dearly Beloved One.

Peace is unto you as you read this letter. My Instinct tells me that I can trust you by my proposition.

My late husband got your contact through a diplomat that was attached to the information and public affairs of the foreign mission when he was alive and instructed me to contact you for this humanitarian assistance and My Instinct directed me to send this money to you.

Greetings in the name of our God. I am Mrs.Shelly Anna McMahan,69 years old widow & a Christian, suffering from long time cancer of the blood (Leukemia) According to my doctor my condition is critical and I might not survive.Although as a Christian, I believe God and I know that I will not die, but will live to declare the glory of God.

My husband and I are true Christians, but quite unfortunately, he died unexpectedly, Since his death I have been alone from on sickness to the other and Presently, this €5.1M is still in the custody of the security firm, the management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated. Presently, I'm  in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to do anything by myself and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

My late husband (Mr. Jonnie McMahan) died five years ago of a sickness that lasted for only four days here in our home town in Dublin Ireland.Kindly contact me through this email mrsshellyann@gmail.com so that I give you the full details of my fund (€5.1M) that I would want you to take charge of even after I am gone. 

May God Bless you.

Mrs.Shelly Anna McMahan.


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