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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: "melissa pointer" <melissa_pointer@melissa2004.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:08:31 +0000
Subject: MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!!

FROM MELISSA POINTER.

Email: melissa_pointer@melissa2004.net

Dear Beloved in Christ,

It is by the grace of God that I received Christ,Having known the truth, I
had no choice than to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God for
eternal life and in the sight of man for witness of God & acute's mercy and
glory upon my life.

I am Mrs Melissa Pointer the wife of Mr Harry Pointer, my husband worked
with the Chevron/Texaco in Kenya for twenty years before he died in the year
2001.We were married for twenty-seven years without a child. My Husband died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Before his death we
were both born again Christians.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my
matrimonial home which the Bible isagainst. When my late husband was alive
he deposited the sum of US $3.5M. (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand
U.S.dollas with a Bank in Europe.Presently, this money is still with the
Bank and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to
sign for the release of this money or rather issue a letter of authorization
to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I can not come over.

Presently, I'm in a hospital in Kenya where I have been undergoing treatment
for esophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors
have told me that I have only a few weeks to live. It is my last wish to see
this money distributed to charity organizations any where in the World.

Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my
illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility
to any of them. Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me Stand
andcollect the Funds from the Bank.I want a person that is God fearing that
will use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the
word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took
this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money
and my husband 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.

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 in the bosom of
the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall
hold my peace. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard
because of my soundless voice and presence of my husband's relatives
aroundme always.

I don't 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
Attorney who is in Europe as he will be the one to assist you in laying
claims for this funds. For security reason reply to this

mail:melissa_pointer@melissa2004.net

Yours in Christ.

MELISSA POINTER



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