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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: MMA RIAM <mma.riam@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: mmariam1@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 18:06:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: As Salam Alaikum!!!


>From Mrs.Mariam Muhammad.
mmariam011@hotmail.fr  As Salam Alaikum!!!
  I am Mrs.Mariam Muhammad from Liberia ; I am married to Mr. Jean Muhammad who worked with our Liberian Embassy here in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2008. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
  When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $3.8 Million with a Private Finance Vault here in Cote D lvoire. Presently this money is still in the Vault  Company. Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to my cancer problem. Having known my
condition (cancer of the liver and stroke).
  I decided to donate this fund to Charitable Organization, Welfare Organization, an Imam or a man of God ,or any faithful brother or sister that will utilize this fund the way I am going to instruct herein. I want somebody that will use this fund according to my Late. Husbands Dream to help the orphanages, widows, propagating the good work of Allah (god) and
to endeavor that the work of god is maintained and to help Less-privilaged people in the World. The Quoran made us to know that blessed is the hand that grivet. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Muslim's
and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used against his will. I don't want in away where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this Fund. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the
hand of Allah, because he says in the Holy Quoran that he is going to fight my battle and I shall hold my peace.
  I don't need any telephone communication in this regards because of my health hence the presence of my husband??s relatives around me always. I want you and the Mosque to always pray for me. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Muslim Mom. Whoever that wants to serve Allah must serve
him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
  Write back as soon as possible, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
  Hoping to receive your Urgent and Positive response.
  Yours Sister in Islam.
  Mrs. Mariam Muhammad
  Allah Hafiz.
  As Salam Alaikum!!!

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