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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: "Wendy Jane" <mrsjane233@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2017 11:24:41 -0800
Subject: Hello

This message was originally HTML formatted. View in a HTML capable client to see the original version.\r\n\r\n Good day Dear friend, First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to reach you for a transaction of this magnitude. My Name is Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams I am 75 years old base in South Africa. I write to Relate to you of my intention to use my money 20.5 million dollars for charity work in your country. I was married to Late McCauley Scott Williams who was a contractor with the Government of South Africa before he died for plane crashed in 2000 in Kenya airways. I am a new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast. All indication from my doctor that my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I wouldnt live more than three months, according to my doctors and in all indication regards to medical analysis. This is because the cancer disease has gotten to a very bad stage that no hope for me to be a living person again.40 years period of marriage life, still we could not produce any child, my late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited some part of his business and money in the bank. The doctors has advised me that I may not live for more than Three months and 2 weeks and warn me to stop thinking over who is going to inherit my money, today I have decided to donate contribute to the less privileges, charity and orphanage homes. I want to know if I can trust you to use these funds for charity / orphanage and 20% will be for you as compensation. I await urgent reply. Remain blessed Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams

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