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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: =?utf-8?q?Amina=20Sani?= <aminasani85@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: mrsaminasani1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 14:44:44 +0530 (IST)
Subject: I Need Your Help


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: aminasani85@yahoo.in



- Dearest,It is with tears and pains that I am writing this mail from my sick bed in a hospital in Accra Ghana . My name is Mrs. Amina Sani, widow to late Mr. Idris Sani,former owner of PETROLEUM AND GAS LOGISTICS LTD in Benin Republic .I am 62 years old, suffering from cancer of the breast.From all indications my condition is deteriorating and it's obvious that I won't live more than 3 months according to my doctors. The tumors have deteriorated into the critical stage. I don't want you to pity me, but I need your trust. My late husband died in December 2003 in a plane crash in Benin .During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child.My late husband was wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live long, so I have now made up my mind to spread my wealth to charity & mercy works in Africa, Asia, America and Europe . Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. I found your e-mail address online by chance over a month ago. I prayed & prayed for God to reveal to me if you'll could be relied upon to see to & administer to my last will. The signs i experienced convinced me, and i have decided to contact you. But if for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology.My late husband was an Oil tycoon. He has mineral rights all over Africa .He left the sum of US$7, 000, 000, 00 Dollars only, which he packaged in a mentality box with one security company in Ghana . I need your help to take-in, & distribute this funds to charity works & needy homes as i stated above so that when I die my soul will rest in peace knowing the money served a purpose rather than being expropriated by the government(corrupt politicians) at my death because i don't have children that will inherit,& positively utilize money instead. The funds& distribution will be entirely at your discretion and control, I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives with my generosity (this is my main concern)By the way 20% of this fund will be for your time and effort, while 80% goes EXCLUSIVELY to charity. In God's name i beseech you to get back to me soon.Thanks & God bless you.Mrs.Amina Sani.


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