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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 AGES GEORGE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agnesgeorge177@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 08:33:24 +0100
Subject: Dear friend My charity Donation

  Greetings in the name of Our Lord dear beloved friend
With all sincerity and humility, it is with deep pains I write you this message of wishful assistance to my predicament, I am Mrs.Serah Jones undergoing medical treatment in Brasil, I am 58 years old, I am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my brain, from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that, according to my doctors they have advised me that I may not live for the next two months, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage.
I was brought up from a motherless babies home was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child, and my husband died in a fatal motor accident and before his death we were true Christians.
 
Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $7.5million dollars with a reputable bank in Brazil. Presently, this money is still in the bank and the management just wrote me as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get it confiscated.
 
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.
It is my last wish to see that this money is invested to any organization of your choice and distributed each year  among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless babies home where I come from. I want you God fearing, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows, I took this decision, before I rest in peace because my time will soon be up.
 
Lastly, my happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation. Whosoever that wants to serve the almighty must serve him with all his heart and in spirit and soul and also in truth. Please always be prayerful all through you’re life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for an individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act according to my specification herein.
As soon as I receive your reply with your full names and address, i shall give you the contact of my late husband's lawyer who will issue you an authorization letter on my behalf that will enable you to receive the money from the bank. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hearing from you soon.
 
I wait for your reply
Yours in Christ
Mrs.Agnes George

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