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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: Mrs Joan Gates <fgfhrytufji@awqasxsdx.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <mrs.joangates@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 05:38:12 -0700
Subject: DEAR BELOVED FRIEND URGENT RESPOND


Greeting to you. firstly, I got your email address from a mail Directory an=
d decided to mail you for a permission to go ahead. I am Mrs. Joan Gates Un=
ited Kingdom, married to Dr. James R. Gates who worked with Texaco Oil Comp=
any in London, before he died in a ghastly motor accident on his way to a B=
oard meeting. My Husband and I were married without any children,and I deci=
ded not to re-marry and presently I am 69 Years old. When my late husband w=
as Alive he deposited the sum of $16.5M. (Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thou=
sand U.S. Dollars) with a Bank. Presently this money is still with the Bank=
and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to rec=
eive the money or rather Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to rec=
eive it on my behalf. I am presently in a hospital where I have been underg=
oing treatment Cancer of the lungs and inability to talk and my doctors hav=
e told me that I have only a few months to live so I think the best thing t=
o do is to use the money for charity purposes. I want a person who is trust=
worthy that I will make the beneficiary of my late Husband's Fund deposited=
with the bank so that the person can get the money and utilize 70% of this=
money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world and keep th=
e remaining 30% for his effort. At the moment I cannot take any telephone c=
alls due to the fact that my relatives (They had squandered the funds I gav=
e them for this purpose before now and are around me I have been helping or=
phans orphanage/motherless homes. I have also donated some money for humani=
tarian needs in Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Austria, Germany and so=
me Asian countries. I have been touched to the good work of humanity throug=
h you, rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds=
inappropriately. I know i have never met you but my mind tells me to do th=
is, and I hope you act sincerely. I want you send me the following informat=
ion, if you are interested as an enable that you are the right beneficiary.=
As soon as I receive your information, I shall give you the contact detail=
s of the bank, authorization letter and my picture with the doctor as an au=
thenticity of my integrity. Your Full Name, Your Contact Address, Phone Num=
ber, Your Age, Your Occupation and Any of your identifications This is to e=
nsure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth. I await your urgent r=
eply.(Email:mrs.joangates@foxmail.com or mrs.joangates2@gmail.com) Regards,=
Mrs. Joan Gates

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