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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: "Andrew J. Harsh" <harshj29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jharsh2201@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:10:04 +0000
Subject: FROM: MRS. ANDREW J. HARSH.

FROM: MRS. ANDREW J. HARSH
BELOVED IN CHRIST,
#58 VOORTREKKER STREET,
CERES 6835 SOUTH AFRICA


CALVARY GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, I AM: MRS. ANDREW J.
HARSH, A WIDOW TO LATE J. I AM 67YEARS OLD; I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN
CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST. FROM ALL
INDICATIONS, MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT
I MAY NOT LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO
A VERY SEVERE STAGE.

MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE GULF WAR, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR
MARRIAGE WE HAD A SON WHO WAS ALSO KILLED IN A COLD BLOOD DURING THE GULF
WAR. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL
HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN TOLD ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE
FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND I AM SO SCARED ABOUT THIS. SO, I NOW DECIDED TO
DIVIDE PART OF THIS WEALTH, BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVANGELISM
IN AFRICA, AMERICA, EUROPE AND ASIAN COUNTRIES.

I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND PRAYED OVER
IT, I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5.8MILLION US DOLLARS TO THE
MOTHERLESS BABY HOMES, NEEDY, POOR, CHARITY HOMES AND WIDOWS TOO. PLEASE
NOTE THAT, THIS FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN SOUTH AFRICA
THEREFORE MY LAWYER WILL FILE AN IMMEDIATE APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF
THE MONEY IN THE NAME OF YOUR MINISTRY. PLEASE, DO NOT REPLY ME IF YOU HAVE
THE INTENTION OF USING THIS FUND FOR PERSONAL USE OTHER THAN ENHANCEMENT OF
EVANGELISM.

LASTLY, I WANT YOU TO BE PRAYING FOR ME AS REGARDS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND MY
HEALTH BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT SINCE MY SPIRITUAL BIRTH LATELY THAT
WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST IN ONE'S LIFE IS VANITY UPON VANITY.

IF YOU HAVE TO DIE SAYS THE LORD, KEEP FIT AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF
LIFE. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE SWEET
FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU.

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST,
MRS. ANDREW J. HARSH

_________________________________________________________________
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