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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: "joy williams" <joy_williamsb5@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:32:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: BELOVED


BELOVED,=20
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS JOY WILLIAMS F=
ROM SWITZERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE TOM WILLIAMS I AM 55 YEARS OLD, I AM N=
OW A NEW CHRISTAIN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREA=
ST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS=
QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON LIVE MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCT=
ORS,=20

THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.MY LATE =
HUSBAND DIED LAST FIVE YEARS,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE C=
OULD T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS=
DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISE=
D ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DE=
VIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE C=
HURCH IN AFRICA,=20

AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE AND =
I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5,000.000.00U.USD(=
FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I W=
ANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN ABIDJAN. ON=
CE I HEAR FROM YOU,=20

I WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS YOU WILL USE TO GET THIS FUN=
D RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCO=
UNT. I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT W=
ILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,=20

BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST =
IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELL=
OWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.=20

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.=20

YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST.=20

MRS JOY WILLIAMS,=20

Las nuevas aventuras de Harry Potter, a un clic! http://www.starmedia.c=
om/entretenimiento/especiales/novedades.html

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