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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: "Mrs. Helen CooK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrshelencook44@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2021 09:48:21 +0200
Subject: Dear Beneficiary

Dear Beloved
I'm sorry for this sudden mail.My name is Mrs. Helen Cook. I was
recently diagnosed with this heartless pandemic virus called COVID 19
in a private hospital in UK, and do to my age and my other health
conditions the doctors has already told me that my survival rate maybe
slim due to my health conditions and my old age.
I have some funds I inherited from my late loving husband Mr Andrew Cook, the sum of (four
million united States Dollars) which he deposited in BANK Here.
and I need a very honest and sincere person that can use this funds for
God's work and a significant amount out of the total funds will be for
your compensation and administrative charges for doing this work of God.
I decided to contact you.
If you can be trusted to handle this charity project,
send your details to my private email address:  ( mrshelencook44@gmail.com )
Your full name:................
Occupation:.....................
Contact Number:.............
Please stay safe at this difficult time all over the world.
Your Sister In The Lord.
Mrs. Helen CooK

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