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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: "Chris Ofor" <chrisofor2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: chrisofor1@netscape.net
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 16:59:31 -0700
Subject: Brethren,

Brethren,
Isaiah 1: 18  said " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool It is by the same grace that
i write you today, having known the truth, i am compleed to the will of
Him who has called me.
For the witness of God's mercies and glory upon my life that i count it
a previlege to share my testimony with you, having gotten your contact
from the internet. I am Chris Ofor, an attorney to the late Mr and Mrs
David Yuen,and America couple that lived in my country Nigeria for
20years before they both died in an ill fated plane crash late last year.These
couples were dedicated christians , believers in  the word and act. They until
their death believed God for a child but they never had any . Whilst in
my country they invested in Real Estate and the Oil Industry. They were
weatlthy in every sense of the word.
As their Attorney, before their death, the husband  Mr David Yuen
instructed me to write his WILL.Because they had no child or any known
sibiling, they bequeathed their wealth to God's work.According to the WILL, the
properties have to  be disposed and the proceeds realised channelled
into a ministry for the work of God or any humanitarian endeavour. Being their
attorney, all the documents for the properties were put in my care. He
gave  me the authority to sell the properties and give out the  fund to the
ministries for the work of God.
In line with their Will, i sold off their properties after at their
demise.To be candid i ealised over $2.500.000.000 million  (Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand USD) My rightful paymnent for my legal fee was
deducted by me from the total amount realised from the sale of the
properties, this was premised on the initial agreement between my clients and my humble
self before their death. The total sum to be set aside for funding of the
Gospel as instructed Mr David Yuen  is $2.500,000.000  (two Million
Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) only. But Instead of giving the  fund out
for  the work of God then, as initially instructed  by the owner before his
death, i fraudulently converted the funds for to my personal use with an eye for
investment abroad for my evil benefits,against the ultimate wishes of
the original owners.
I was afraid of putting the fund in the Bank, because I have to give
account to the bank on how I got the money. I used a Finance company
which  has an overseas office to  deposit the funds . The Finance and  security
company on my instructions has since moved the funds to their office in
Europe.
But praise be to God that in that we were yet sinners Christ died for
us, i had an encounter with God when Dr Benny Hinn came on a three day
crusade to my country on the 29th of April 2005. Subsequently my eyes were opened
to the book of Acts 5:1-11 about Ananias and Saphira and the book of
2Kings 5:20-27 about Gehazi the servant of Elisha, i was so ashamed of my act
greed and selfishness. In my personal study of the word of God i came accross
the book of Ezekiel 36:26-27 that says "A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my
spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall
keep  my judgments, and do them" I confessed my sins of greed and illegal
appropriation of another man wealth.
From the scripture, I discovered that the only way I could have peace
in my life is to do what is lawful and right by giving out the fund as
instructed for the work of God by the owner before his death. I have
asked God for forgiveness and I know that God have forgiven me.
 But I have to do what
is lawful and right in the sight of God by chanelling the funds into
the Lord's ministry work or for Charity as instructed by the owner before
his death. After my fasting and prayers, I asked God to make his choice and
direct me to a honest Christian or the chosen ministry that deserves this fund
by his Grace. I then contacted you, and as a matter of fact, it is not
only you or your ministry that I picked  initially, but after my fervent
prayer over it, then you were nominated to me through divine revelation from
God.
The Finance Company where I deposited the funds i did notify that i
will soon transfer the deposit out of their custody to a recepient. So
if you know that you will use this fund honestly and wisely for the things
that will glorify God's name, then do urgently contact me back  first
through this mail and the details will be given to you on how you  will
be able  to receive the fund in your country.For avoidance of doubt, i make bold
to  say that i will will be  responsible for any financial commitment in
the course of the transfer funds to you. So if you know that you will use this fund honestly and wisely for
things
that will glorify God's name, then do contact me on this email.(barrchrisofor1@netscape.net)
address You should also forward to me your:
1, Full name.
2, Name of your ministry/charitable organisation
3, Full contact address
4, Your telephone number/fax number
Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
Yours in Christ,
Chris Ofor.

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