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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. Thelma Okilo" <mrs.thelmaokilo@rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 17:45:24 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Dear Beloved One,


Dear Beloved One,


I am Mrs Thelma Okilo, 49
years  from Homs,
Syria. Please I
am contacting you for a graceful venture that requires sincerity and
truthfulness between us.




I and my husband has the sum of
5million US$ deposited into a security custody in India. We moved this fund out of Syria
against the present crisis but it is quite unfortunate that few months after
that, a severe attack in our residence took the life of my husband and left me
almost paralyzed now.  I am presently in
a Red Cross emergency center in West Africa
where I found myself now that I regained a bit consciousness.




I am bedridden and can no longer
walk, it is my guardian nurse that helps me communicate with you now. The fund
is already in India,
I ask for your truthfulness (NOT cheating) to retrieve this fund and use it to
establish charity homes for the helpless ones and the needys. We do not know
each other but I am taking this risk as my spirit directs me because I feel I
will not survive these fatal injuries all over me.


Further details when I hear from
you.





 Yours

 Mrs Thelma Okilo

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