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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. Isobel Ella Curtis" <alangolding02@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.isobelellacurtis@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2021 10:19:45 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED!!

Greetings!

I am writing this mail to you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow
in my heart. I am Mrs. Isobel Ella Curtis, from KY, USA and a widow to late
Mr. Thomas Curtis, I am 53 years old, suffering from long term pancreatic
cancer. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's
quite obvious that I may not live more than two months according to my
doctors. I have some funds I inherited from my late loving husband Mr.
Thomas Curtis, as his next of kin the sum of US$2.7 Million United States
dollars, which he deposited in the Bank before passing away in 2017 he died
after a few days in the hospital.

Presently his account is dormant, and needs legal backing as to prepare a
legal affidavit/deed of donation at the court which has to be legalized by
probate authority. I want to know if I can trust you to use these funds for
charity/orphanage and 40% of this money will be for your time and expenses
during the process while 60% goes to charities. Everything will be
transparent. Hope is well understood. If i did not hear from you i will
contact another person in the same case. Please, contact me for more
details. E-mail (mrs.isobelellacurtis@gmail.com)

Yours in the Lord,
Mrs. Isobel Ella Curtis

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