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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. Patricia Maria Howard." <mrsppsps@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Patricia Maria Howard." <11patricam011@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:11:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello my beloved in the Lord.


 Hello my beloved in the Lord.First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to reach you for atransaction of this magnitude. I am Mrs. Patricia Maria Howard, fromrepublic of Ireland, born in the state of Ohio USA. I am legally marriedto Mr. Michael woody Howard, a south Africa citizen born brought up inSwitzerland, I live in Switzerland with my husband for 32 years beforewe move down to south Africa in 1985 after my husband retirement in1974, I am 74 years old by the grace of god, I am a new Christianconvert, suffering from long time cancer of thebreast. All indication from my doctor that my conditions is reallydeteriorating and it is quite obvious that i wouldn't live more thantwo months, my dear husband was involved with the January 2000 Kenyaairways plane crashed as you can see on the news line web site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ africa/6627485.stmI choose you after viewing your profile and i have confident in youbecause i have prayed. I am willing to donate the sum of $20.5m U.Sdollars, to the less privileged. May the grace of our lord the love ofgod and the fellowship of god be? With you and your family?I await urgent reply.Remain blessed,Get back to me on 11patricam011@gmail.comMrs. Patricia Maria Howard.    

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