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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: "Julie Karen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <juliekaren81@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12.17.46 +0100
Subject: DEAR Beloved,

DEAR Beloved,
I'm Julie Karen
PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD. I am the above named person. I am married to Dr. Donald Karen A LIBERIAN but I'm now in  General HOSPITAL taking treatment for my sickness, my husband worked with U.S embassy in LIBERIAN for nine years and also has an Engineering Company in Nigeria before he died in the year 2003, before his died, We were married for twenty years without a child, and i was brought up in motherless babies home in Australia before i married to him, am From Australia before i married to My husband who is from Liberia. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home because of the love both of us share. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$8,500,000.00. in a bank, recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next five months due to my cancer problems.
Though what disturbs me most is my stroke and heard hearing .Having known my condition, I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a Christian or Muslim individual That will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct. I want a church or individual that will use this fund on orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians, US$2 Million was given to them for charity, instead of using it as advised, they spent it in wrong way, so I don't want another of my husband's hard earned money to be misused by wicked people. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. As soon as I receive your reply with your personal details , I will forward it to A lawyer so that he will contact you as the beneficiary next of Kin to my fund.
Thanks and remain blessed, i will be expecting your reply.
Yours in Christ, Mrs Julie Karen

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