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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: "Sarah Peter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahpeter78@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:38:37 -0700
Subject: Charity Project for Haiti Victim

From: Mrs. Sarah Peter.
  Dear Trusted Friend
          
 
    My quest to locate a responsible friend and partner to bring my dreams to a reality, hence l took this bold step to contact you through this medium and I would not like you to take an offence that l am bothering you since you do not know me neither have we met before. I am Mrs. Sarah Peter from Jordan, I am married to Dr. Alan Peter who worked with Jordan embassy for nine years, before he died in the year 2003. we were both married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both involved in charity services. Since his
death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which is against my principle. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $25.5 million (Twenty five million Five hundred thousand US dollars) with a security company in Spain.
  Presently, this money is still invested in a security in Spain. Recently, my doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to my cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition of health I have decided to donate
this fund to charity, orphanage or an individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct. I want an individual that will use these Fund-to-fund
charity, orphanages and widows and to ensure that these set of people are well maintained. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are well of and I don't want my
husband's hard earned money to be misused by them. As I do not want a situation whereby this money will be used in an ungodly manner, hence the reasons for taking this bold decision.
  I am not afraid of death because l have lived a fulfilled life. As it is right now, I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and also due to the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development, As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security company in Spain. I will also issue you power of Attorney that will prove you as the original-beneficiary of this said fund. I want you to see to the need of the less privileged. My happiness is that I lived a fulfilled life and l don't have any regrets in life.
 
  Hoping to hear from you soonest and do notify your interest to help me
 
 
 
assist charity...........
Best regards.
Mrs. Sarah Peter
 
 

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