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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: "Mrs Melissa Pointer" <pointersfreewill@msn.com>
Reply-To: pointerfreewill@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 15:24:49 +0000
Subject: TRUSTED ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Dearly Beloved
It is by the grace of the Lord that I send you this Letter, having known the truth, I have no choice than to do what is lawful and right in the sight of the Lord for eternal life and in the sight of man for the Witness of God’s mercy and glory upon my life.
I am Mrs. Melissa Pointer the wife of Mr. Harry Pointer.
My husband worked with cheveron/Texaco in Kenya for Fifteen years before he died in the year 2001. We were married for ten 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 my religion is against.
When my late husband was alive he deposited The sum of US $8.6M. (Eight Million six Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) with a Security company in Europe.
The funds where deposited as family valuables / treasures for security reasons. Hence they are not aware of the real contents of the consignment.
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 short time 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 for personal reasons.
Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me Stand and collect the Funds from the security company
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.

It is said that blessed is the hand that giveth.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money.
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.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my soundless voice and presence of my husband's relatives around me always just for the fact that they want to lay claims to the funds they know nothing about.
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 a representative who is in Europe as he will be the one to assist you in laying claims for this funds.

I Wish You A Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

Yours Ever.
Melissa Pointer.

 


 

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