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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. Maureen A. Greaves" <zenithbnkpic1966@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maureenagreavesmaureen@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:57:12 +0100
Subject: My Beloved in Christ,

I am Mrs. Maureen Greaves, married to Late Alan Greaves (PhD} who worked
with (Total S.A) the French Multinational Integrated Oil and Gas Company
and one of the five "Super major" oil companies in the world as their
Africa drilling rig supplier for 17 years before his death On Christmas Eve
2013.

Before his death we were both devout born again Christian; lay-preacher and
former social worker and my late husband Alan
Greaves; was an organist at the church for 40 years, before his was
attacked and beaten with a pickaxes on his way to play at Midnight Mass at
St Saviors Church in Sheffield and he died in hospital three days later as
you can confirm this link as stated below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529286/A-year-murder-organists-widow-breaks-vigil.html

A year after his murder, organist Alan Graves' widow .
www.dailymail.co.uk The widow of a church organist fatally injured on
Christmas Eve last year played a leading role in an emotional candlelit
service at the spot where he was attacked .

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-25417344

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($15.5M) with a bank
in Cotonou Benin where he worked for 17 years last as the (TotalS.A.)
Africa drilling rig supplier.
I am contacting you because of the recent report from my Doctor told me
that I have some weeks to live due to cardiac and kidney failure problem,
having known my condition, I seek your concept and permission to present
you to the bank as as my late husband foreign investors to retrieve the
fund and utilize for establishing an orphanages home for the poor and
needy, and also propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house
of God is maintained.

I shall give you the full detail documents of the fund as soon as I hear
from you.
Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another good person
for this same purpose. Hoping to receive your response immediately; Thanks
and Remain blessed in the Lord. I Remain yours sister in Christ.
Mrs. Maureen A. Greaves
(Church Army evangelist).

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