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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.mariam kenzo" <mrs.mariamkenzo4you@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "mrs.mariam kenzo" <mrs.mariamkenzo@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 03:39:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: God bless you


God bless you my dear, 

My name is Mrs. Mariam Kenzo from France but I based in Ivory Coast where I have been living with my late Husband for over 32 years, I am very sorry for the attachment, I am a 59 years old woman and I was married to late Mr. Renaud Kenzo who lost his life over a political struggle here in Ivory Coast on 7th July 2014, My late husband is one of the best contractors here in Ivory Coast and also a seasoned contractor in France.

My late husband and I were married for many years without a child of our own and after his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. As I speak to you, I have been diagnosed with congested heart failure, of which the doctors have confirmed and told me that I would not live long. After my husband passed away last year, I realized he deposited a huge sum of money with one of the prime bank here in Ivory Coast from France named BNP PARIBAS.

The money that my late husband deposited in the bank was a total of (5.700.000.00 USD) Five million Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars. As I write to you, I feel that the money in the bank would be a waste if I die and that is why I have come to a conclusion of donating the money out to the less privilege and also the motherless babies home.

My husband's brother is an addicted smoker and drunkard who spend his money on clubbing, expensive drinks and unnecessary things. So I do not wish for him to have any of the money which my husband worked so hard for all his life. After going through profiles over the internet I decided to contact you for friendship and assistance for distribution of my inheritance. Please my dear friend I have come to you to help me carry out this last wish of mine on earth because I am too weak to move about and also have been confined to a wheel chair in my home here Ivory Coast due to the state of my health so I have no use for the money.

It is true that I don't know you, but I have been directed by God through my heart to do this. If you wish to help me, write back to me at your earliest convenience so that I would direct you on how to contact the bank for the transfer of the money to you in whichever way you may wish to nominate for this purpose. Please send me your name, address, occupation, age, sex, marital status and contact telephone numbers to enable me forward it to the bank for them to transfer the money to you.

I await your urgent reply.

Thanks for your kindness and God Bless you.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Mariam Kenzo.

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