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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: "Rita Michelle" <ritamichelle87@gmx.de>
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2018 23:09:30 +0100
Subject: Donation, (Reply in my private email (ritamichelle38@gmail.com)

Dearest in the Lord, greetings to you and your family, I am Mrs. Rita Michelle, an aging widow suffering from long time illness, (cancer), I am currently admitted in a private hospital here in Cote d'ivoire, I have some funds I inherited from my husband, Richard Michelle, who later died in a car accident.
When my husband was alive he deposited the sum of € 2.700.000.00, in a bank,  currently, this money is still in the bank, my doctor told me that I would not last for the next 3 months due to cancer problem. I need someone very honest and God-fearing, that can use these funds for the work of God, my late husband taught that this fund should be used for charitable purposes and this is why I contacted you for this work, please send me the below information.
Your full Name ---
Your country -----
Your address ----
Your age ---
Your employment ---
Your telephone ----
once I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank and I will also issue you a letter of authority that will show that you are the current beneficiary of these fund.
please always be prayerful all through your life. contact me on my email any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing someone else for the same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. hoping to receive your reply. at my private email address (ritamichelle38@gmail.com)
Remain blessed in the Lord
Rita Michelle

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