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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: Mary Josen <maryjosen300@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maryjosen80@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2021 03:14:25 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION GET BACK TO ME


ATTENTION GET BACK TO ME
Good day my dear beloved ones
I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian ground.
My name is Mrs. Mary Josen, a widow to the late Nelson Josen , I am 75
years old, suffering from long time cancerous tumors. From all indications
my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't
live more than 6 months according to my doctor. I have huge funds I
inherited from my late loving husband Mr. Nelson Josen which he deposited
in a bank in Ivory Coast.
I contact you because I need someone to administer the account to his or
her name, to use these funds for Charity work, to build a charitable
organization, and help the Less Privileges. I took this decision, since I
don't have any child that will inherit this fund, and I don't want in a way
my late husband’s hard earned money will be misused.
I would appreciate a reply as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Mrs. Mary Josen

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