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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.Maria Mark <mariamark70@freewilldonor.org>
Reply-To: <mariamark70@live.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 20:51:54 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend

Hello Dear,
 
Though this medium internet has been greatly abused, but I chose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication .However, this correspondent is unofficial and private.
Please give me this little chance to explain myself to you, I would have like to meet you face to face before departing from this mother earth but my illness continue to deprive the chance, but I know I am strong even if I die on the process of this operation I will still praise ALMIGHTY.
 
My name is Mrs. Maria Mark I am a dying woman and i decided to donate what I have to you which is to be used to assist poor people and charity homes. I am 49 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer  for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000(Ten  million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows in general.
 
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 should encase I did not survive this major operation I am about to go through now, but all I need now is prayers.
 
I will like you to Contact my lawyer for all the assistance you need to get this money transferred to you. (Bar William Johnson) with his specified contact and let him knows all I just said about this money, ($10,500,000.00) although he is aware of my intention. Please send him all the below information for easy communication.
Your full name             
Your phone number                     
Your age                  
Your sex                        
Your identification proof             
Your occupation                
Your country and city.                 
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in t his matter to accomplish my heart desire, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. Always write me with below email address:
mariamark70@live.co.uk
Thanks.
>From Mrs. Maria Mark
 
 

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