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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. Anne Gates" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsannegates_privatemail@rocketmail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:12:32 -0000
Subject: Please i need an urgent reply

Dearest Friend,

I am in need of your assistance, but due to the incessant scam mails going on in internet, i know you will find it difficult to believe me but i want you to be rest assured that this is truth and nothing but the truth,i want to make a donation to the poor and needy through you.

My name is Mrs. Anne Gates, A Uk citizen, I live in Dubai Abudabiu, right now i am in the hospital, I have been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer.

I have since lost my ability to talk and my Doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. Before I became ill, I kept USD$ 16.5 Million in a long-term deposit account with Barclays Bank London. Now that it is clear that i will not survive this sickness, I have decided that i must give my wealth to the poor and needy just for assistance.

Mostly if you can donate to motherless, widows and hurricane victims I will highly appreciate.

Kindly reply me via this email: mrsannegates_privatemail@rocketmail.com

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Anne Gates

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