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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: "Mariam Forsythe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <motherforsythe@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 07:02:59 +0100
Subject: MAIL FROM MRS MARIAM

DEAREST IN CHRIST,

I DONT HAVE ANY FAMILY TO DO THIS GOOD WORK FOR ME. I AM MOTHER MARIAM FORSYTHE FROM NETHERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE PATRICK FORSYTHE, I WAS BROUGHT UP FROM A MOTHERLESS HOME, I WAS BORN APRIL 18TH,1939. I AM A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST. I AM PRESENTLY ON A SICKBED TYPING THIS EMAIL TO YOU. MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS IN ALL INDICATION REGARDS TO MEDICAL ANALYSIS, IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WOULDN'T LIVE MORE THAN THREE MONTHS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE THAT NO HOPE FOR ME TO BE A LIVING PERSON AGAIN.

MY LATE HUSBAND DIED DURING THE HURRICANE DISASTER IN NEW ORLEANS,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY CHILD. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH.

THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POOR HOMES AND I WANT YOU TO HELP ME DO THIS WITH MY MONEY.

I GOT YOUR EMAIL THROUGH THE GOOGLE SEARCH SITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT,I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $4.8M U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT MY FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON AND UPON MY INSTRUCTIONS, IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU.

LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOU, IT MUST BE USED FOR THE SAID PURPOSE EVEN THOUGH I'M LATE BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY AND I MADE THE PROMISE TO GOD THAT MY FUND WILL BE USE TO BLESS THE POOR HOMES.

MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS, THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MY MIND HAS PICKED YOU FOR THIS GOOD WORK AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND USE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH MY WISH.

MOTHER MARIAM FORSYTHE

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