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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: "helen.carlsen" <marilyncarlsen008@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2022 11:46:04 +0100
Subject: Beloved,

Beloved,

I know that this message may be a very big surprise to you, Please do
not feel disturbed for contacting you in this regards, It was based
on the critical health condition I find mine self. I instructed the
doctor here in this hospital to help me email you and I believe that
you will be honest to fulfill my wish, because I am a dying woman who
was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago, I have been touched by God
to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for
good work of God. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has,
because he is a merciful God, I will be going in for an operation
soon.

I am Mrs. Marilyn John Carlsen , I am 72 years old woman, From
Denmark and I am suffering a brain cancer, From all indication my
condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously
advised me that I may not live beyond 5 month; this is because the
cancer has reached a critical stage.I was married to late Dr. John
Carlsen, he was a successful business man, before his death, I and my
late husband was jointly in exposition and buying of Gold and
diamond,) in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where we live all our Lives
for Thirty-two years before he died in the year 2019. But is quite
unfortunately, He died after a Cardiac Arteries Operation that lasted
only for four days.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I deposited all the sum of
$11 million dollars with the Gold and Diamond in a Bank in
Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso, where we spend our life together in Burkina
Faso. Presently, this money is still in their custody, and the
management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward
to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a
letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I
cannot come over as a result of my illness, or they get it
confiscated.

Now; I’m with my ipad telephone in hospital where I have been
undergoing treatment, I have lost my ability to do anything by myself
and my doctors have told me that I have only 5 month to live. However,
Now that I am about to end the race like this, without any family
members and no child, It’s my last wish to see that this money is
invested, but you will assure me that you will take 50% of the money
and give 50% to the orphanages home in your country for my heart to
rest.

I want your good humanitarian, to also use this money to fund
churches, orphanages and widows around. I must let you know that this
was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this
issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my
last wishes come true.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authorization which will prove
that you are the new beneficiary of my funds, and the documents
concerning the deposit. Please assure me that you will act accordingly
as I stated herein. Hope to hear from you soonest. I am waiting for
your response urgently.

Yours Sick Sister in Christ,
Mrs. Marilyn John Carlsen.

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