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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: ritter alfred <mrsalfred12@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ritteralfred@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:53:52 +0000
Subject: God Chose you in this Charity work



God Chose you in this Charity work Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please as you read this letter, i don't want you to feel sorry for me because i believe that everyone will die oneday .I am Mrs Ritter Alfred. A woman from Haiti . I am marry to Mr Turner Alfred a citizen of Cote d'lvoire, who is the international exporter of cocoa based in Abidjan Cote d'lvoire.We were married for fifteen years without a child .My husband died in June 7th 2006 after a brirf illness that lasted only a week and two days. Before his death we are happy married husband and wife in Christian family .Since his death i decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the bible is against.When my husband was alive,he deposited a huge sum of money in a private security company here in Abidjan Cote d'lvoire. Recently my doctor told me that i have cardiac problem which affected my heart .And the most is my stroke.And it is quite obvious that i won't live more than eight months according to my doctor.This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage .My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, i inherited all his business access. Since my doctor has adviced me that i will not live for more than eight months,so i now decided to devide the part of this wealth,to contribute to the development of church in Africa, America,Asia, Europe,and helping of the motherless babies and widows. Now ,the lord has called me to rest my life with him in heaven meanwhile, i am willing to donate this money (usd 2.3M) Two million Three Hundred Thousand u.s dollars to you for the use of God charity work in your church and to help the widows,motherless babies and refugee in your country. I am asking of your assistance immediately i finished my praying and fasting to the Lord about this matter to consult me a person who will not betray me in this money when he/her will get it from the security company . and according to the leading of the holy spirit i have chosen you to help me out for this matter, here is my instruction stated below . (1) I will like you to promise me that you will use this money for the help of charity work . (2) Promise me that you will not betray me as soon as you get this money from the security company (3) And also that you will not depart from my instruction for this money . For that reason, i am giving you the content of the deposite in the security company .This is the content of the deposite in the security company .My late husband declared in the security company that the box contains our family valuable for security reasons. Secondly he said that nobody should open this box accept me his wife for a reason, meanwhile i have not tell anybody the content of this deposite in the security company reason that i want you to help me out according to the leading of the Holy Spirit for this issue. I am not doing this by my power but the power of the Holy Spirit who directed me to you. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the sweet followship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family, and may you see the goodness of the Lord in your life this year Amen . I wait for your urgent respond .Your's sister in the Lord. Mrs Ritter Alfred.

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