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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: cynthia thomas <i.s_myway@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: w_bm30@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 07:52:55 -0700
Subject: Good day ,

Good day ,


I know you will be surprise to receive this email, but Before I go
further I will like you to understand that, I am writing this mail to you
With due respect
trust and humanity, honestly i am writing this email to you with pains,
tears and sorrow from my heart. My name is Mrs. Cynthia Thomas from France.
I am married to Late Dr. Bennette Thomas who worked with our Embassy in
Ghana for a period of 8years before he died . We
were married for 22 years without a child before he died after a brief
illness.

Since his death I decided not to remarry due to my religious belief. My
purpose of my contact with you, When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of US$3.8M(Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand
United State American dollars ) which he wanted to make use to build an
orphanage home before he died pf food poison as confirmed by the
doctor.I knew that the plan was done by his family and they have been
praying
for my own death as well so that they can inherite his wealth.


I would have done this donation myself here but i was affected with
cancer and my doctor told me i may not be able to live for the next two
months.Presently i am in the hospital writing you and i took this
decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money .
Moreover, my
husband relatives are not close to me since I devolop a Cancer problem
and it had been their wish to see me dead in order to inherit his wealth
since
we have no Child. These people are not worthy of this inheritance. This
is why I am taking this decision.


As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the
bank in ghana where this money is deposited. I will also issue a
letter of authorisation to the bank that will prove you the present
beneficiary of this money.I also want you to always put me in prayer.In
case you wish to come down here, it will be my great wish to see you
here in person. I want you to use this money for churchs, Charity
organisation,
orphanages, widows and other people that are in need.

Trusting to hear from you immediately.
Thanks & God bless you.
Cynthia Thomas

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