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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "ruth smith" <smith8@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: ruthsmith08@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 21:12:56 +0000
Subject: From: Mrs Ruth Smith


From: Mrs Ruth Smith

Beloved,

Compliments of the day to you ! By this e-mail, I do sincerely apologise for
my intrusion of your privacy. However, I have a serious concern with which I
believe you might be of help and for this reason, I can not but reach out to
someone . My name as given above is Mrs Ruth Smith a nationality of
Australian. I am married to Mr sammy Smith who worked with Australian
embassy in ABIDJAN IVORY COAST for nine years before he died in the plane
crash On 31st of July 2000 with other passengers aboard as you can confirm
it yourself through this web site. (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm) We were a dedicated
Christians and decided to serve mankind to the best of our ability. Since
his death, I have lived with the memories, fighting effortelessly to lead a
normal life but all to no avail. I suffered mentally and psychologically and
shortly was diagnosed of Cancer. I lived with the scourge praying earnestly
for divine intervention. Just a month ago, the doctor informed me that I
have just about three months more to live. I was not shocked. I accepted the
news in good fate. Brethren, it is in this regard that I write to you,
having sourced your address from a database in my late husband's internet
dozier after fervent prayers. Before my husband died, he deposited a sum of
$5.6Million (Five Million six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a
bank in cote d'ivoire. I have wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety
of this fund to any devoted believer or organisation and to achieve this, I
need an individual that will utilize this funds adherently for these
purposes.
1: For the sick, less-privilledged and destitute,
2: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c.
3: orphanages, Research centres and widows propagating.
These are the wishes of a dying woman. They are the desires of my heart,
hence my decision as I do not have a child to take over my inheritance.
Please, understand that I am not doing this because of fear of death as I am
certain where my place already is. At this point, friends, well wishers, and
my husbands relatives are all clampered around me as I
sojourn in my hospital bed and are unaware of my plight, hence I will not be
able to make an open conversation. When I receive your response, I will
direct you at once to the bank. All I need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty
and Sincerity assuring me that you can in all honesty and obedience utilize
the funds for the purpose with which it is meant. In any a case, a quick
response from you will be highly appreciated as I am already on a count-down
and may not have ample time to finalize the procedures. Any delay in
response may compel me to source for other measures or perhaps choose the
alternative which I will not be happy to. Please, do not see this as a
strange possibility or an unbeliveable opportunity to make wealth, rather
see this as a rare chance to assist the less priviledged in truth and in
spirit
with a substance. I await your immediate response.

Thank You and Bless You richly!
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Ruth Smith

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