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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: limda clifford <limdaclifford65@gmail.com>
Reply-To: limda54@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2023 02:36:27 -0700
Subject: WITH DUE RESPECT

Dearest beloved in the Lord,

How are you? My name is Mrs  Linda Clifford from France , but based in
Africa cote d'ivoire for 12 years as a business woman dealing with
gold exportation, I am 75 years old widow. I have been diagnosed with
cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment and according to
medical experts; I have few weeks to live without any family members
and no child.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared
for anyone (not even myself), but my business. I was never open
handed, I was always hostile to people like they never had hopes of
becoming as successful as me. But now I regret all this as I now know
that there is more to life than just wanting to be prosperous. I
believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world, I
would live my life a different way from how I have lived it but now
that God has called me I want to give to the charity as I want God to
be merciful to me and accept my soul.

My mind is not at rest because i am writing this letter at the
hospital Intensive care unit. Hence I have decided to give to charity
organizations as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I did on
earth, but now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this myself anymore.

I have fixed  deposit $5.5 million USD with the Bank ) here in cote
d'ivoire and i have instructed the bank management to transfer the
fund to you as my business partner that will apply to the bank after i
am gone, but you will assure me that you will give 80% to the
orphanages home and few charity organizations in your country for my
heart to rest and take 20% for your efforts. Please If you accept to
proceed kindly send your details as listed below so that i will
forward it to the bank for the transfer process thanks.

Your complete name
Address (home/office)
Your mobile number
Your age
Occupation
A copy of your ID

Thank you for your time and devotion, I'll be awaiting your quick response.

God be with you.

Mrs Linda Clifford.

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