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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: garrymoore@admin.in.th
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:27:59 +0800
Subject: Good Day,

Good Day,
My name is Mrs. Sarah Johnson. I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about
2years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me
everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I
have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather
than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly. I have
asked God to forgive me all my sins and I believe he has because He is a
merciful God. I will be going in for an operation, and I pray that I survive
the operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $3,445,000(Three
million four hundred and fourty five thousand dollars) to you for the good
work of the lord, and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for
the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone
calls, due to the fact that my relatives are around me and I have been
restricted by my doctor from taking telephone calls because I deserve all the
rest I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. Kindly
Contact my lawyer Barr. Garry Moore through this email
address;garry@admin.in.th

Thank you
Mrs. Sarah Johnson.


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