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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: Mary Yucky <maryyucky2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mary Yucky <maryyuckyi2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:46:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Beloved


Hello Beloved
I am a sick widower with no child. Four years ago I was diagnose cancer of lungs and I'm still battling with it. My main reason of contacting you is because I have some funds deposited in a bank by my late husband, with good faith & trust, I want to entrust the funds into your hands, for humanitarian work. I know this may sound so strange to you and also extremely risky for me to offer such proposal to a total stranger through email, but this is my last resort to get this done. I am looking for a confidant individual, organization that can help fulfill my last wish. Hope to read from you. I will appreciate your selfless act towards this vision. I shall wait for your quick response because my illness is a deteriorating one.
Remain blessed,
Mrs. Mary Yucky

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