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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: "Mrs Herminia Bides" <herminia.bides01@verizon.net>
Reply-To: herminia.bides@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2014 15:58:26 -0200
Subject: Important message from Mrs Herminia Bides.

Dearest One in the Lord, I seriously need Your Prayers.

I am Mrs Herminia Bides from united state of America. I was married to
Engr. Robert Bides who work as a Director Overview of Complant Sugar
Company in Philippine (SUCOPE),for twelve years before he died On the 27th
of May 2008. My late husband died as a result of Brain cancer, as was
confirmed by our medical specialist then.

I have a good reason sending you this message after going through
searching contact on google, past two weeks my Doctor checked me and
considered my general fitness whether I have any other medical conditions,
and decided that I will be going for surgery for cancer of the lungs, to
my greatest surprise three days ago, the same Doctor rechecked me again
and told me that my general fitness is not suitable for this surgery which
can lead to my life-threatening complications and can be fatal, I have
limited time to live but he has no other option than to do the surgery,
all I should do is to go to Lord in prayers and ask God to save me for
this surgery as that is the only option left for me.

Now I am suffering with the same cancer which killed my husband, I am
crying everyday and night as I am afraid to die leaving the fund
US$29.5Million my late husband deposited with a bank somewhere for safe
keeping, of which I am the next Of kin, and that is the important reason I
sent this message to you after praying over my situation, God revealed me
to Search for any of his good Servant or Workers, on google to pray for me
always till the surgery is successful.

My dear, I know this letter might come to you as a surprise considering
the fact that we have not seen each other in real life before. I decided
to do this after praying over my situation like I said above. You should
please consider the proposal on its content and not the fact that you have
not known me before. I am presently with my laptop writing from my sick
bed in a Hospital here in Philippine where i have been undergoing
treatment for cancer of the lungs over a Month now.

With my health condition and because my husband and I have no children, I
decided to donate this fund (US$29.5Million) my husband deposited with a
bank somewhere to you and want you to use the fund upkeep Orphans,
motherless Babies and widows and set up a memorial foundation with me and
my late husband name. This is on the condition that you will take 25% of
the fund for yourself, 5% used for expenses, while you will use the
remaining 70% for the charity work in the society as I instructed above.

I will release all legal documents that will prove you as the beneficiary
to my funds" I would love to have a chat with you on facebook but
unfortunately am not always online here on Facebook due to my health
condition. I suggested we keep in touch through the email to enable us
know more about each other and move to the next step, if my proposal
touches your heart to help me and help the needy.

The reason I suggested we should communicate through the email is because
the doctor has warned me to stop Facebook Chating as it is not convenience
for me here in the hospital due to my health condition, I always checking
my email than Facebook,., I check my mail almost every-time. I want you to
understand why you should write direct to my email, we can fix a date for
chatting due to my health condition and our different time zone. Thanks
for your understanding.]

looking forward to hear from you.

Here is my private e-mail address:( herminia.bides@gmail.com )

Yours Sincerely
Mrs Herminia Bides

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