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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: "Maguerit" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2016 15:27:11 -0500
Subject: Hello

Hello,
 
I am Mrs.Maguerit Wong now undergoing medical treatment now.I am married to Dr.James Wong who was a large scale farmer and owed business before he past away in the year 2006.
 
We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Before his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which is against my religion. we both have used most of our money to help the less privileged in most societies all over the world.
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $10.6 Millions USD with a Finance Company in Europe. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not Last for the next three months due to cancer and what disturbs me most is my stroke.
 
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or an Islamic organization better still an honest individual like yourself that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. If you can be honest to handle it in good faith, please let me know so that I can give you more details.
 
Please get back to me in good faith for more details.
 
Your sincerely,
 
Mrs. Maguerit Wong
 

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