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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Rosemary Anderson <rosemarya_1963@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rosem_1964@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 13:08:07 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Greetings


Greetings,I have a humanitarian task for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will but I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian ground.
I am Rosemary Anderson, I resides in Bangkok, Thailand but I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer and now I am 67yrs still battling the with cancer which has defiled all forms of medical treatment and right now I have only a short time to live.
I am very rich but was never generous, so I have decided to give alms to the poor, less privileged people, orphanages, widows, physically challenged children and more especially to those that are devastated by FLOODS and EARTHQUAKE but I cannot do this myself anymore because of my health.I have given most of my assets to my immediate family members and just recently I asked members of my family to give some money to charity organizations and they refused and kept the money for themselves counting days for me to die so that they can inherit my hard earned money.
But I have a huge cash deposit of money with a finance company in Thailand and I will want you to help me collect this money at any cost and dispatch it to poor, less privileged people, orphanages, widows and children in your country because i am currently undergoing cancer treatment in England.
Consider this and get back at me as soon as possible and I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming cancer surgery though I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going and any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose.
Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders.Regards,Rosemary. 

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