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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: Maria Sharpon <sharponmaria@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: msharpon2@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 06:12:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dearest Beloved





Dearest,
 
Please read this slowly and carefully, as it may be one of the most important emails you ever get. I am Mrs. Marian Sharpon, I was married to Late Mr.Christopher Sharpon He used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company London and was also a seasoned contractor in the Falklands Region.He died on Monday,31 July, 2003 in Paris.
 
We were married for seven years without a child. After his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of $5.3 Million in a bank in Malaysia, which is now wasting and languishing there. My Doctor told me that I would not last long due to my complicated health issues, I have cancer.
 
Having known my condition I decided to donate this funds to better the lives of the less privileged. I need an honest and trust worthy individual that will utilize this money in accordance with my
instruction. I want the funds to be used in funding religious organizations, orphanages and less privileged propagating the word of God. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit this money and my husband's relatives are very unkind to me and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused.
 
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my course and I shall hold my peace. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank,and my Attorney in Malaysia,. For legitimacy, he will also issue you a letter of authorization that will empower you as the original-beneficiary of this fund.
I want you to always pray for me, Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose. If you are not interested,kindly pardon me for contacting you.
 
Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Maria Sharpon.



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