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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.Ruth O'keefe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.ruth46@live.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2012 08:08:39 -0300
Subject: From Mrs.Ruth O'Keefe Good Day!


Good Day.

My name is Mrs.Ruth O'keefe,a widow who lives in London now in a hospital here in London.Recently,my doctor told me that I would die in the next 3 months because of my illness with cancer which I am surfring now.

I was married to the late Mr.James O'keefe, who died in 2009. He was an oil businessman in the former Soviet Union and South America.We were married for 18 years without any child.Since 2004 I have been diagnosed with cancer and fibroid.So I developed a hearing loss as a result of drug reactions.

Before my husband died in 2009,he deposited the sum of $1.2 million(One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars)in a security company.I want you to help me use this money on charity before I die,such as the Poor,Widow's,Less-Previlledge and war victims in your country.I accept this decision because I do not have any child who will inherit this money after I die. If you are ready to do my wish,reply me So that I will give you further details.

I am waiting for your email.

God Bless You,

Mrs.Ruth O'keefe.

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