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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 HELENE SNEDDON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrshelenesneddon2009@switched.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:12:43 +0200
Subject: MRS HELENE SNEDDON USE THIS FUND

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Calvary greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am Mrs. Helene Heather Thomson Sneddon, I am a nationality of Canada , I grew up in hong kong and I am also presently hospitalized in Hong Kong , due to my illness. Presently, I'm with my laptop in this Hospital, where I have been undergoing treatment of cancer for over one year. My husband was once the Managing Director of Shell Oil Company in Hong Kong , where I and my husband spent most of our lives I am a widow to Late Mr. Mark Thomson Sneddon.

I have served the Lord all through my life, from long time cancer of the breast to a very critical stroke.From all indications, my condition is serious and is quite obvious that I may not live more than six months, because the cancer stage has gotten to a very severe state and my doctor has told me this The one that disturbs me most is the stroke that paralyzed half of my body. My late husband was killed during his reign as the Managing Director of Shell Oil Company in Hong Kong , and during the period of our marriage we had a son who was also killed along with his father through food poison in Shell Oil Company convention of 2007 in Hong Kong .

My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all His business and wealth. Presently my doctor told me that I may not live for more than six months, though I am not scared about this, I am not afraid of death, hence I will be in the bosom of the Lord forever, any time my God calls me home, I now decided to look for an organization or an individual who is God fearing, that will use the funds for charity organization, by contributing to the development of evangelism in the world, assisting motherless babes homes and poor churches all over the world.

I selected you after browsing the Internet for this purpose and prayed over it, for the fact that I always go to God in prayers in situation like this, because He is the Alfa and Omega.I am willing to donate all the money I have in the bank, which is US$15,000,000.00 (FifteenMillion United States Dollars) to you for the development of evangelism and also as aids for the less privileged around you. Please note that this funds is lying with a Bank,
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Please Reply this to: mrshelenesneddon2009@switched.com
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the sweet
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forever more, amen.
God bless you. Mrs. Helene Heather Thomson Sneddon
Reply to This mrshelenesneddon2009@switched.com

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