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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "MY TESTIMONY TOM" <mytxt_tom@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 13:14:24 +0000
Subject: MY TESTIMONY

Dearly Beloved,
   "It is by grace we are saved,not by works lest any man boast about
It is amazing that while we are yet sinners christ died for us. What a
mighty God we serve! It is out the joy of salvation that i share my testimony with
you.
   I am TOM KEN, the legal adviser to late Mr. and Mrs. Steve David, an
America couple that lived in my Country Nigeria for 25years before they both
died in the plane crash late last year. They were dedicated Christians,
and they were believers in word an act.
Although they had no siblings they believed God for one until their
unfortunuate death.While they were in my country, they were wealthy in landed properties
.As their legal adviser, before their death, the husband Mr. Steve David
instructed me to write his WILL. Because they had no child, they dedicated
their wealth to God. According to the WILL, the properties have to be
disposed and the proceeds realised channelled into a ministry for the work of God
or any humanitarian endeavour. Being their attorney, all the documents for
the properties were in my care. He gave me the authority to sell the
properties and give out the fund to the ministries for the work of God.
    After the demise of the couples, the properties was disposed off as
instructed by Mr.Steve David before his death. And as matter of fact, after I sold
all their properties, I realized more than $3,500,000.00 (Three million
five hundred thousand US dollars plus), and what supposed to be the
percentage interest of my right legal fee was firstly deducted by me out of the total
amount realized from the sold properties, this was based on the initial
agreement between me and the owner of the properties before his death.
    Therefore the total amount left to be channelled into God's work as instructed by
the Mr Steve David, is $3,500,000.00 (Three Million five hundred thousand
US dollars) only. But Instead of giving the main fund out for the work of
God then, as initially instructed to me by the owner before his death, I
converted the fund to myself with the intention of investing the fund abroad
for my personal us e instead of giving the money out as instructed by the
owner befo re his death. I was afraid of putting the fund in the Bank,
because I have to give account to the bank on how I got the money. I used a Finance
company which has an overseas office to deposit the funds . The Finance
and security company on my instructions has since moved the funds to their
office in Europe.
    However, I later had encounter with Christ when Envangelist Reinhard Bonnke
was preaching on television concerning Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11.
After hearing the word of God, I gave my life to Christ and became a born
again Christian. As my growth in the Lord began i came accross the book
of Proverbs 28:13 that said"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy".I confessed my
sins of greed and illegal appropriation of another man;s wealth.
> From the scripture, I discovered that the only way I could have peace in
my life is to do what is lawful and right by giving out the fund as
instructed for the work of God by the owner before his death.
I have asked God for forgiveness and I know that God have forgiven me. But
I have to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God by chanelling
the funds into the Lord's ministry work or for Charity as instructed by
the owner before his death.
    After my fasting and prayers, I asked God to make his choice and direct
me to a honest Christian or the chosen ministry that deserves this fund
by his Grace. I then contacted you, and as a matter of fact, it is not only
you or your ministry that I picked initially, but after my fervent prayer
over it, then you were nominated to me through divine revelation from God.
    I have notified the Security Company where I deposited the funds that i
will soon transfer the deposit out of their custody to a recepient.
So if you know that you will use this fund honestly and wisely for the
things that will glorify God's name, then do urgently contact me back and the
details will be given to you on how you will be able to receive the fund in your
country .
   In line with my desire to ensure compliance with the instruction of Mr Steve
David,I would shoulder the financial responsibility associated with the
receival of the funds.
Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
Yours in Christ.

TOM KEN

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