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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.Vivian Salem" <viviansalem0011@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2022 01:54:36 +0100
Subject: Dear Beloved One , Please, I really need your assistance

Dear Beloved One''

My name is Mrs.Vivian Salem, wife of late Salem Nasim in Iraq,One year
ago, I lost my husband Nasim and three children - Husam, 15 years old
, Wasim, 12 years
old and Merna, 6years old, this happened when American
tank shelled our car as the family attempted to flee
heavy fighting in Baghdad
View the Website below for a detailed story of how i
lost my family.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/04/vivians_story/html/1.stm
Before my husband and children were killed, he deposited the sum of
$10.5 million (Ten Million five hundred thousand Dollars) in a bank.
My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due
to illness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this funds
to a church or better still a God fearing individual that will utilize
this money the way I
I am going to instruct herein. I want an individual that will use this
fund for orphanages and humanitarian work. I took this decision
because I don't have any
children that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives
are not Christians and I don't want my husband´s hard earned money to
be misused by unbelievers. I don´t want a situation where this money
will be used in an
ungodly manner. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the
contact of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that
will empower you as the original- beneficiary of this
fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated
herein. This must be kept confidential from the eyes and ears of my
husband's family. Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks,
Mrs.Vivian Salem.

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