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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: "mrsmary brown" <mary_brown999@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:48:15 -0600
Subject: I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU


MY GOOD FRIEND

GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS MARY BROWN, A WIDOW
TO LATE COFLLING BROWN. I AM 65 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN CONVERT,
SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THAE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY
CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON'T
LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE
CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND KILLED DURING
THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR
MARRIAGE WE COULD'NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND
AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS
ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO
DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CHURCH IN AMERICA ASIA, AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING WEB SITE
AND I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $12,000.000.00 U.S
DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS
LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY.
I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID
PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND
OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR
LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AMEN.

YOURS IN CHRIST

MRS MARY BROWN


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