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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrsethelcoy56@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:55:18 +0000
Subject: May God bless you as you walk in the light and glory

Dear Friend,

Please read this slowly and carefully, as it may be one of the most
important emails you ever get.I am Mrs. Ethel Coy from Greece . I was
married to Late Mike Coy. The Director of Vikhroli Link.Ltd,a seasoned
contractor in West African Region. He died on Monday, 31 July 2003 in Paris.


We were married for seven years without a child. After his death I decided
not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home.When my late
husband was alive, he has over the sum of $5.2 Million USD in banks and
security companies in Europe, which is yet unclaimed.My Doctor told me that
I would not last long due to cancer problem that befalled me. Having known
my condition I decided to donate this funds to better the lives of the less
privileged. I need honest and trust worthy individual that will utilize this
money in accordance with my instruction.

I want the funds to be used in funding religious organizations, orphanages
and less privileged propagating the word of God. I took this decision
because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband
relatives are very unkind to me and I don't want my husbands hard earned
money to be misused.

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 course and I shall hold my peace. As soon as I receive your
reply Ishall give you the contact of the Bank.

For legitimacy, he will also issue you a letter of authority that will
empower you as the original-beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always
pray for me, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for
another individual for this same purpose. If you are not interested, kindly
pardon me for contacting you.

Thanks,

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Ethel Coy.



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