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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: "maria fernandez" <maffernandez221@telegraf.by>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 10:27:06 +0000
Subject: CALVARY GREETINGS FROM MR'S MARIA!


CALVARY GREETINGS FROM MR'S MARIA!
From Mrs Maria Elena Fernandez,

I am the above named person from Philippine. I am married to Mr. Rodolfo
FERNANDEZ who worked with Philippine embassy in Kuwait for nine years before
we left to Philippine where he was re-appointed as a navy officer before his
untimely death in the year 2005.

We were married for eleven years without a child. He died in his home
country Philippine after a brief illness that lasted for only four days
Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I
decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the
Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
$7.3Musd (Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) in cash
concealed in a trunk box and deposits it with a Security Company in Abidjan
Cote d ivoire (West Africa) which he declare and register it as family
valuables.

Recently, my Doctor told me that i have serious sickness which is cancer
problem. The one that disturbs me most is the high blood pressure sickness.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or
individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct
herein. I want a church or individual that will use this fund for
orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the
house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is
the hand that giveth I took this decision because I do not have any child
that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and
I do not want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. This is why I
am taking this decision to contact you.
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. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord
will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I do not need any telephone
communication for security purpose until this mission is accomplished.

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply with
full assurance of your assistance, I shall give you the legal proof of this
matter and contact of the security company in Abidjan where he deposited the
trunk box. I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the
present and legal beneficiary of this trunk box (fund). I want you and the
church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness
is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve
the Lord must serve him in Spirit and Truth.

Hope to receive your reply.

Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Maria Elena Fernandez

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