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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev Fr.John W. MAMBAH." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjmamba11@yahoo.co.th>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:18:38 +0200
Subject: I need your help to get this done.

Rev.John W.MAMBAH.
St. Agnes Catholic Church.
Parakou,Cotonou.Benin Republic.
West Africa.
Dear Friend,
 
Be Blessed In The Lord!!
It took me time and divine intervention to write you this mail, as we have never had any correspondence now or before. My name is Rev.Father John Wilson Mamba. I am a South African citizen but now in Cotonou, Benin Rep. I'm a Catholic Priest and I am very much interested in a very good  business relationship with you for our mutual benefits as I have access to what is needed, but lack the experience and I am not in a position to perfect its for use.
 
There is an urgent need for my contacting you as I recently have been granted an opportunity to have access to US$13,700,000.00 (Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only). Access to this fund is made available by a widow woman, An American citizen, who has lived all her life here and who happens to be a serious member of my parish. She is well known in this community and aside being a major real estate agent here in Africa and Abroad she is a magnet in environmental management and was a licensed oil merchant before now. Unfortunately she has been living and struggling with breast cancer for close to 15 months now. Though she is a widow, and has an 11 year old daughter and I have been responsible for her care since the outbreak of her horrible dilemma. She has been through in a first major operation although she is to undergo a final operation within the next few days; the doctors have not given her much of a chance to live. She is not aware of this f act and she stills remains hopefu
 
I wish you could be of an assistance to this course and I will like to add that sometimes I receive unsolicited mails, so I hope my mail does not come as an embarrassment to you, but if it is, please kindly accept my apologies.
 
Awaiting your response on my private : revjmamba11@yahoo.co.th / revjmamba1@hosanna.net
 
 
And be blessed in the Lord.
Yours In Christ,
Rev Fr.John W. MAMBAH.
+229 93 70 27 87

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