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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: "RUTH BISHOP" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bishopruth1@superposta.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2013 13:47:39 -0500
Subject: YOUR HONESTY AND TRUST

HELLO,
 
I AM MRS. RUTH BISHOP, A WIDOW TO LATE MR. WILSON BISHOP. FROM SEATTLE
WASHINGTON,USA. PRESENTLY RECEIVING TREATMENTS, AM 61 YEARS OLD
CHRISTIAN CONVERT SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM
ALL INDICATION MY CONDITION'S IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE
OBVIOUS THAT I WON'T LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW ACCORDING TO
MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD
STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST
TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE
COULDN'T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.
 
 
MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL
HIS  BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT
LIVE FOR  MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW  DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART
OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE  DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCHES IN
AFRICA, AMERICA, ASIA, AND EUROPE. I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO
DONATE THE SUM OF USD 8.6,000.000.00 DOLLARS TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED.
 
 
PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN
USA, YOU WILL ONLY BEAR THE COST OF THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP AND ALL
DOCUMENTATION THAT WILL BE DONE IN YOUR NAME. PLEASE HELP OUT, YOUR
HELP WILL SAVE MANY LIVES IN THE WORLD, LET GOD TOUCH YOUR HEART TO
HEAR MY CRY.
 
 
LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS  MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE USED
FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH
ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS
THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I WAIT YOUR RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL
 
 
YOURS IN CHRIST.
Mrs. RUTH BISHOP

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