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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: LORDS HUMANITARIAN ORG <official_humatarian_org@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 18:26:56 +0000
Subject: Please answer urgently


Good day;

I know that this message will look strange, surprising and probably unbelievable to you, but it is the reality. I want to make a donation in the amount of: £3,500,000 (3.5 million pounds) for you. I contact you by the will of God. My name is Mrs. Sherry Johnson, I am a firm British woman specialized in mining gold and diamonds in Africa. but now, I'm very sick of a cancer. My husband died in an accident two years ago with our two children, leaving me with only a son who was just 9 years old, and now I have cancer of the esophagus that damaged almost all the cells in my system/agencies and I will die soon according to my doctors. My most concern now is my only remaining son who knows nothing about life and has no one to take care of him after I have died, because I and my husband has no family, we grew up in the orphanage and were married in orphanage. If I die my son will soon be left alone in the desert of life, and I do not want to make it a subject of the orphanage where I and my husband grew up, I want my son growing up in a family where he will be loved, Please if you can be reliable and sincere to accept my humble proposal; I have £3. 500 000 in a fixed deposit account; I will order the Bank to transfer the money onto your account in your country immediately then you take my son in your country and raise. Please, answer as quickly as possible.

Please reply to my private email address,
mrs.sherry_johnson@yahoo.com
God bless you.
Mrs. Sherry Johnson

Please answer urgently


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