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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 Sarah Welsh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrswelsh08@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 23:48:20 +0100
Subject: Mrs. Sarah Welsh. (Benefactor)

I am Mrs. Sarah Welsh, an English woman who is suffering from cancerous
ailment. I am married to Sir Jim Welsh who also is an Englishman though
dead now. My husband worked with the British Railways for over two decade
before the cold hand of death took him away on the 23rd of July 2003 at
about 2:00AM. Our marriage lasted for over a decade without any fruit of
the womb. My husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I
made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals
within the United Kingdom, Europe, North and South America,Africa and the
rest of the globe as he had passion for persons who cannot help themselves
due to physical disability or financial predicament.I can adduce this to
the fact that he needed a Child from this relationship, which never came.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 10 Million (Ten
Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling with an offshore Bank in
Nigeria.Presently, this money is still with the Bank. Recently, my Doctor
told me that I have a limited or numbered days on earth and that my life
span will not exceed 150days due to the cancerous problems I am suffering
from. Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to
the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family, and me I
have decided to donate this fund to a non-governmental,or a non religious,
and or a non profit organization or better still an individual, that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.I want a non
governmental, or a non religious, and or a non profit,organization or
better still an individual, that will use this gift which comes from my
husbands sweat to fund the upkeep of widows,widowers,orphans, destitute,
the down-trodden, physically challenged children,barren-women and persons
who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially.


It is often said that blessed is the hand that giveth.I took this decision
because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my
husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not want
my husband Jim Welsh hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill
perceived ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be
used in an ungodly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I know that I am
going to be with the Almighty when I eventually pass on.The Almighty will
fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I do not need any telephone
communication in this regard due to my deteriorating health and because of
the presence of my husband relatives around me. I do not want them to know
about this development. With God all things are possible.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank
in Nigeria. I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower
you as the original beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I lived
a life worthy of emulation. Please always be prayerful all
through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in souring
for a non-governmental, or a non religious, and or a non profit
organization or better still an individual for this same purpose.Please
assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein. Hope to hear
from you soon and God bless you and members of your family.

Mrs. Sarah Welsh. (Benefactor)

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