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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: "REV CATHERINE JONAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cathyjonas1950@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2017 20:46:00 -0700
Subject: Kindly Accept My Offer

I am Sister CATHERINE JONAS from USA, served at St. Theresa Pro. Catheral, Maitama Abuja Nigeria, I am 63 years old suffering from chronic urinary tract cancer. From all indications, my condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that i may not live more than two months after my next surgery in London.
My personal physician told me that I may not live for more than 2 months and I have no child of mine since my spiritual obligation does not permit me to marry So, I now decide to donate all my life savings, which turns out to be at the sum of. (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only ) to you for humanitarian purposes. by establishing a foundation in your country under my name, so as to immortalize my name and 20 percent of this sum would be yours while 80 percent goes for the project

This money is deposited in a reliable bank in, Nigeria, Presently, I have informed my Attorney, about my decision in WILLING this fund to you, you are to get back to me immediately if you are interested in carrying out this task, so that I will instruct you on how to get in contact with my attorney and my account officer.
NOTE: I shall bear the cost of transferring this money to you; all i need is your sincerity. God bless you.

Sincerely,
REV CATHERINE JONAS

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