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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: "Maria Venegas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mariavenegas387@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2017 13:57:44 -0700
Subject: Woman of cancer!!!

Dear Friend.
 
 
My name is Maria Venegas. I have a tumor in my brain and i am dying. My husband left to me his entire savings and i have decided to donate it to charity. I am 59 years old now and about 2 years ago, shortly after my husbands death i was diagnosed with cancer before we moved to South Africa 20 years ago. however i haven't found anyone i could trust. And now, since I 'm sick, I see in the eyes of my alleged friends, how are they waiting for my death so that they can share my husband $13million among themselves but I will not allow that to happen even if it's the last thing I will do.
 
 
When i die the only surviving heir of the whole money is my stepson, but he was never grateful to his father and even was violent. He has terrorized us all throughout these years besides, he is not a good person, someone who runs a brothel can not be a good person. You may be wondering why I chose you. But someone has to do it for me, because I can no longer wait even with the best of intentions.
 
 
It is my desire that 70 % of the money would be donated to cancer research as soon as the money reaches you successfully. but my step son shouldn't know about it. The remaining 30% you can keep it for your efforts. I was touched by the Lord and His love opened my heart and my eyes. I have asked the Lord to forgive all my sins, and I think he did it because he is merciful. I have a surgery in two weeks and the doctor has assured me a 50/ 50 chance to survive. This is my last attempt to preserve the hard-earned money from my husband before a further abuse by his son. Apart from that, he does not even need it. At the moment I can not perform telephone calls, due to the fact that my friend is worried and always around me and also the doctor does not allow me to use a cell phone. I 've got a chance to write this message with the help of my nurse, who showed me an internet café around here. Yesterday our family lawyer came. Luckily no one else was here so I
could  initiate him peacefully with my project .
 
 
He assured me that he will prepare everything for the transaction and the change of my last will. Actually, I should not keep it as a secret, but I will only because such amount of money can make people fight over it and for that i dont want anyone to know. If you are convinced that you could help me with in this matter , then please respond as quickly as possible. I do not know how much time I have left. In all cases , I wish that you could use the love of the Lord in your life, and he shall guide and knowledge you.
 
 
God be with you love greetings.
 
Mrs. Maria Venegas.

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