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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: Melina Wojo <melinawojo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Melina Wojo <melinawojo@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:25:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Greetings In the name of the lord


Greetings In the name of the lord,
 
I am Mrs.Melina Wojo, an aging widow suffering from long timeillness. I am currently admitted in a private hospital. My Doctor has
confirmed that i will
not survive. Presently i am having serious pain in my lungs and chest due to the seriousness of my lung and heart cancer.  From the way i am feeling right inside me, i know that i will not live for a long time now.  I have some funds
I inherited from my late loving husband, the sum of (US$5.500.000) Five Million Five hundred thousand dollars, which he deposited in a Financial Security House and I need a very honest and God fearing One that
can use this funds for God's work, to care for the needy, setting up charity homes and to look after orphans. I found your email address from the internet and decided to
contact you.
 
Please if you would be able to use these funds for the Lord's work
as mentioned above, kindly reply me as soon as possible for more details.

Please always pray for me.
 
Your Sister In The Lord.
Mrs. Melina Wojo

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