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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: "Mrs. Mary Jones" <maryjones@int.agu.org>
Reply-To: maryjonesonly@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:36:38 +0200
Subject: A call to serve.....



Mary Jones (Muslim name: Fatima Usman)
From: Mrs. Mary Jones

Beloved,

Compliments of the day to you! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologize 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 cannot but reach out to someone - a fellow
Brethren. My name
as given above is Mary Jones, formerly of the Islamic faith and known
as Fatima
Usman, Malaysian and married to Saudi Arabian Diplomat Mubarat Harry Jones
(Usman). I and my husband have been married for 35 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've been dedicated Christians and decided to serve mankind to the
best of our
ability.Since his death, I have lived with the memories, fighting effortlessly
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. 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 whole heartedly decided to donate the
entirety
of this fund to any sincere person for these purposes:

1: To set up a cancer center to assist victims of it
2: For the sick, less-privileged and destitute
3: For the Widows and orphans 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.My family, relatives and late husband's people are
Muslim infidels who all come 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
unbelievable opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to
assist the less privileged.

I await your immediate response.

Yours Sincerely,
Sister Mary Jones.

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