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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. Geraldine Aubrey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsaubreygeraldine29@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2019 15:03:28 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS

May the peace of God be upon you, and your family? I am Mrs. Geraldine Aubrey I am 75 years old of age from Wales UK and was diagnosed of bronchial cancer about two years ago immediately after the death of my husband.

However, I know this message may come to you as a surprise but is it my last resort alternative i could take at this juncture to get my last desire/wish fully accomplished by the grace bestowed on me at this point in time. So please consider this with all seriousness.

I hereby soliciting for your assistance in the most polite language i could use, hoping that you would truly understand and show this concern on my behalf to carry out this Wish/ Will of mine. Although i
do not know you in person but i want to work with my instinct believing i would not be disappointed.

I am a dying woman who had decided to donate and distribute what I have to various Charity organizations around the world. Please my dear i came to this conclusion as i will soon be going through all sorts of medical operations. Though before this decision i have already been touched by God to donate/distribute from what I have inherited from my late husband for the good work of God rather than allow his relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly As I lay on my sick bed.

I want you to help me in carrying out my last wish on earth which will be very beneficial to my soul. i want to WILL a total sum of ( $4.250,000 ) four million two hundred and fifty thousand, united state dollars USD to you which I want you to distribute part of it to charity homes all over the world
(Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Middle East.)

If you will be kind, willing and dedicated towards making my heart-desire on this charity work accomplished I am ready to offer you 15% while 85% of the Fund will go to any Charity organizations of your choice for me, but it has to be in ( Europe, south America ,Asia, Africa and Middle east.) please I am looking forward to your response soonest.
Regards, Mrs. Geraldine Aubrey

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