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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: "Mrs Diana Ferguson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diana.ferguson001@e-mail.ua>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:50:35 -0000
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY

Dear Beloved,



I crave your indulgence as this E-mail is coming from somebody you have not met before, I decided to do this after praying over the situation. You should please consider the transaction on it's content and not the fact that you have not known me . I need not dwell on how I came by your contact information because there are such possibilities lately.

I am Mrs Diana Ferguson,I reside in London, United Kingdom,I am a widow to Late Mr.Stewart Ferguson who used to work with an oil servicing firm in Abu Dhabi and was also a seasoned contractor in the Middle East Region,he died on 4th day of October, 2007 in U.A.E. I have been diagnosed of Cancer,presently I am writing from my sick bed in an intensive care unit here in UK.

My husband deposited the sum of GBP18.2 Million in a bank here in United Kingdom of which I am the next of kin,With my health condition and childlesness,I have decided that you be my next of kin,hence I can trust you.



I want the funds to be used in funding religious organizations, orphanages and less privileged propagating the word of God,I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will receive the fund, but you should please ensure that the fund is used judiciously as I have instructed .

For legitimacy, my Attorney will also issue you a Letter of Authorization that will empower you as the original-beneficiary of this fund,I want you to always pray for me, Any delay in your response will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose.


If this condition is acceptable to you, you should contact me immediately with your full names and contact information so that I will send you the contact of my late husband's Attorney, who will help you in the validation and procurement of necessary documents needed, if you are not interested,kindly pardon me for contacting you.

Alternate Email:diana.ferguson001@e-mail.ua

I look forward to your response.


Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Diana Ferguson

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