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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. Kathryn Richardson" <maryannw420@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.kathryn.godismystreght@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:32:46 -0500
Subject: FROM HOSPITAL

Calvary GREETINGS,

I AM WRITING THIS MAIL TO YOU WITH HEAVY TEARS IN MY EYES AND GREAT
SORROW IN MY HEART. I am (MRS.) KATHRYN RICHARDSON a widow to LATE
WRIGHT RICHARDSON; I am 63 years old, suffering from long time Cancer
of the breast. From all indications my condition is really
deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2
months according to my doctors. I have some funds I inherited from my
late loving husband MR. WRIGHT RICHARDSON, the sum of
(USD$2.300.000,00) which he deposited in a bank here and I need a very
honest and God fearing person that can use these funds for CHARITY
WORK, helping the Less Privileges, and 30% of this money will be for
your time and effort, while 70% goes to charities.

YOURS SINCERELY.
MRS. KATHRYN RICHARDSON

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