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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Elizabeth Jones" <elizajones1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:35:57 +0000
Subject: With Love and Trust.......

Dear Friend,

Peace of the lord be with your entire household, I am Mrs. Mary Elizabeth
Jones, a Kuwaiti national I was married to Dr.Harry Jones who worked with
Kuwait embassy in South Africa for nine years before he died in the year
2000,He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Since his
death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home
which the Bible is against.

We were married for eleven years and the union unfortunately did not produce
any offspring. Before his death we had given our lives to Christ and were
living according to his Words. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with cancer
and the doctor has informed me that I do not have much time to live.
Presently I am practically an invalid as the cancer has ravaged my body and
I can feel my life slowly ebbing away. I do not have much time to do the
Lord's work but He will give me strength to see my last assignment through.

My husband, Dr.Harry Jones before his death deposited his life savings of
$8.6Million (Eight Million Six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with a
financial institution in Spain. Before his death, we were committed to the
growth of the church.And the propagation of the word, but I can no longer
partake in these noble task. I need a church, Christian individual or
individuals who can continue the work on our behalf and will utilize this
money the way I am going to instruct here into-funding churches, orphanages
and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God
is maintained. To care for the sick, the poor, the downtrodden wherever they
may be The Bible made us to understa nd that blessed is the hand that gives.

I took this decision because I don't have any child or next of kin who can
inherit these funds. Though the internet is a seemingly unlikely place to
find such individuals, I believe that the Lord hides jewels in the most
unlikely places. It is not the means that is important but the message. 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. With God all
things are possible.

I will issue you a letter of authorization that will prove you as the
present- beneficiary to these funds and also other documents backing the
claim of the funds. I want you and the church to always pray for me because
the lord is my shepherd. Happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy
Christian. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated
herein.

Hoping to hearing from you via my personal email address of
eliza_jones1@yahoo.com, for further briefing.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Jones.



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