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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: "Mrs. Linda David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lindddadavid@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:37:40 +0100
Subject: RE: Donation

I got your email address after a careful search online. Please As you read my story I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because I believe everyone will die someday. I am Mrs. Linda David a Japanese married to an American. I am married to Late Mr. John David who was the joy of my life before he died in the year 2000 folowing a prolonged illness. My intention of contacting you is to solicit your assistance in executing my will after my death following my sharp decline in health.

I was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defied all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

I and my husband were married for eighteen years without a child and we never wanted to adopt one. Before his death we were both very happy, close and loved each other so much but sudden death snatched my love and happiness away from me.Recently, my doctor informed me that I have less than three months to live due to the cancer complications. Though what disturbs me most is the new development where my doctor informed me that I have also become diabetic ,hypertensive  and may be hit by stroke.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never cared for anyone but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to poor people but now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe that if God gives me a second chance  I will live my life a different way from how I have lived it in the past.

Now that I know my time is near, I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so I decided to give alms to charity organizations I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate family members and some few close friends While I was still a bit strong.

I distributed money to charity organizations in United Kingdom,Brazil,Zambia,Kenya,South Africa,Indonesia,India and Philipines. Now my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self any more so I asked members of my family to close one of my bank accounts and donate the money, which I have there to a charity organization in Haiti but they refused and kept the money to themselves that I have already given out so much to strangers telling my Doctor that am running mad.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I gave them already. The last of my huge deposit which non of my family members know of is the huge deposit in my last bank account and I will want you to help me receive this deposit and help distribute the money to charity organizations in your country or setup a charity organization.

I happily authorize you to take 20% of the money as compensation for helping me in the distribution of this money to charity organizations of your choice. If you will be ready to help me achieve this dream send you reply to me so I will authorize my bank and lawyer to make you the new beneficiarry of my bank account since I dont want anyone close to me or my relatives to know about this.

In your reply please send me the following which i will use to prepare a letter of authority notifying my bank to make you my new beneficiary

1.  Names in full....................................................................

2. Address in full...................................................................

3. Occupation........................................................................

4. Telephone number.................................................................(mobile number prefered)

Thank you very much and God bless you and your family for remembering me at a time like this, for the few days I have to live I will put my trust in you that you dont dissapoint me in making my dreams come to reality while am alive or after my death.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Linda David

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