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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: mary jones <marym0013@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <maryjonesonly@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:13:12 +0000
Subject: Mary Jones



From: Mary Jones Beloved, Compliments of the day to you ! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologice for my intrusion of your privacy. However, I have a serious concern with which I believe you might be of help and for this reason, I can not but reach out to someone - a fellow Brethren. My name as given above is Mary Jones, Liberian and married to Saudi Arabian Diplomat Harry Jones. I and my husband have been married for 12 years and has lived and worked around the world as diplomats and worthy ambassadors of both nationalities, until his death to a ghastly auto crash in 2003, shortly after his conversion from Muslim to Christianity. We were a dedicated Christians and decided to serve mankind to the best of our ability.Since his death, I have lived with the memories, fighting efortelesly to lead a normal life but all to no avail. I suffered mentally and psychologically and shortly was diagnosed of Cancer. I lived with the scourge praying earnestly for divine intervention. Just a month ago, the doctor informed me that I have just about three months more to live. I was not shocked. I accepted the news in good fate.Brethren, it is in this regard that I write to you, having sourced your address from a database in my late husband's internet dozier after fervent prayers. Before my husband died, he deposited a sum of $5.5 Million (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a Finance/Security company. I have wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety of this fund to any devoted believer or orgnisation and to achieve this, I need a devoted Christian individual that will utilize this funds adherently for these purposes:1: For the propagation of the gospel2: For the sick, less-previlledged and destitute3: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c.These are the wishes of a dying woman. They are the desires of my heart, hence my decision as I do not have a child to take over my inheritance.Please, understand that I am not doing this because of fear of death as I am certain where my place already is.At this point, friends, well wishers, and my husbands relatives are all clampered around me as I sojourn in my hospital bed and are unaware of my plight, hence I will not be able to make an open conversation. When I receive your response, I will direct you at once to the Finance/Security Company. I will also empower you with a letter of authority as the new beneficiary to this fund with all necessary documentation.All I need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me that you can in all honesty and obedience utilize the funds for the purpose with which it is meant. In any a case, a quick response from you will be highly appreciated as I am already on a count-down and may not have ample time to finalize the procedures. Any delay in response may compel me to source for other measures or perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy to.Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbeliveable opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist the less previledged in truth and in spirit with a substance.
I await your immediate response.Thank You and Bless You richly!

Yours SincerelyMary Jones
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