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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: Majo Mbah <majo1mba@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Majo Mbah <moja1mba@yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:01:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Mrs. Majo Mbah


My Dear

With warm heart I offer my friendship, and my greetings to you in the name of our lord, and I hope this letter meets you in good time, I propose with my free mind and as a person of
integrity from God, I know that this message will appear as a surprise to you that we barely know but the grace of God directed me to you and I wish you read this message and be blessed in name of the Lord.

I have a brain tumor; I suffer terribly at the moment.
My doctor just informed me that my days are numbered because of my health therefore condemned to certain death. Currently, I have exhausted all my savings for my medical care.

But I do have some funds for my charity
project, these funds are deposited in a fixed deposit in a bank here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire. Purposed for charitable foundation, my marital status is such that I'm
single because I lost my Husband over 9 years now and unfortunately we have not had a child together, which I am no one to leave my legacy for. Therefore, to release my funds I would like to make a donation so that there is no stiff tax on my money.

To this I would be so graceful and in order to help the poor to give what amounts to said legacy worth ($ 6.4 million) to enable you establish a charitable foundation in my memory so that the grace of God be with me until my last home so I can receive an honorable place with the Lord our father.

I have no fear because before contacted you, I have several nights prayed for the Lord to give me the contact of a trusted person of whom I can entrust this matter and I believe my contacts to you is divine.

Know that you can keep 30% of the money for yourself and the rest will be used to create a charitable foundation in my memory and a federation in the fight against cancer and also build
orphanages.

I count on your goodwill and especially on the proper use of these funds have something I do not doubt because I have great confidence in you that God may guide me toward you.

Awaiting your prompt reply, receive my cordial and fraternal greetings.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Majo Mba.

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