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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: =?UTF-8?Q?PATRICIA_DAVID?= <patriciadavid1961@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:43:42 +0000
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?CAN_I_TRUST_YOU?=

Dearly Beloved,

Please read this slowly and carefully, as it may be one of the most important emails you ever get.I am Mrs Patricia David, I was married to Late John David. He used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company London and was also a seasoned contractor in the West African Region. He died on Monday,31 July, 2004 in Paris. We were married for eleven years without a child.

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I Believe Everyone will die someday. I have been diagnosed with Esophagus cancer and My Doctor told me that I would not last long due to my complicated health issues.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations /churches/ Mosque/motherless babies/less privileged/widows, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the Oman, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria, Thailand, Russia and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eight million pounds £8,000,000 that I have with a bank in London/Indonesia where I deposited the fund. I will want you to dispatch it to charity organizations if only you will be sincere.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money, I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank and issue you a letter of authorization that will empower you as the original-beneficiary of this fund.

I want you to always pray for me,Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose.If you are not interested,kindly pardon me for contacting you.

Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
MRS Patricia David

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