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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: "Ruth Davies" <ruthdavies@sify.com>
Reply-To: raymondcarl01@discuz.org
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:38:37 -0300 (CLST)
Subject: Why Not Help Me




Dearly Beloved,

I am Lady Ruth Davies suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Sir
William Davies,a shipping tycoon notable for his great wealth,influential
extended family, and charitable activities all his life before his death.
Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without child.
My husband died after a protracted illness in April 17, 2007.

My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the
less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not help
themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.I can adduce
this to the fact that he needed a Child from our wedlock which never came.

When my late husband was alive he had a lot of investments in the capital
market(stocks and bonds valued at over $5 Million). Consequent upon his
demise this stocks were transferred solely to me.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from though what bothers me most is the
stroke that I have in addition to the cancer.

With this hard reality that has befallen me,i have decided to distribute
this stocks to persons in need,orphanages and motherless babies homes. I
have chosen you as one of the beneficiaries hence,i have decided to give
you $5 Million worth of my stocks and i want you to use this gift which
comes from my husbands effort to better your lot,fund the upkeep of
widows,orphans, destitute, the down- trodden, physically challenged
children,barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped
financially around you. It is often said 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 bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I
do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or invested into
ill perceived ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be
used in a worldly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I do not need any
telephone communication in this regard due to my deteriorating health and
because of the presence of my husbands relatives around me as i am
currently bedridden in the Family house and do not receive any visitors
unless approved by the immediate younger brother to my late husband.I do
not want them to know about this development in order to safeguard this
bequest.

I have authorized my Private Attorney Raymond Carl in the UK whom i
communicate with via emails everyday,to issue a Letter of Authority in your
favor to the Security Company handling this stocks and this will empower
you as the beneficiary of this fund,he would also endorse my WILL where i
will include your name as one of my beneficiaries. My happiness is that I
lived a life worthy of emulation. Please always be kind hearted all through
your life.

I want you to immediately contact my Attorney through his email
raymondcarl@discuz.org and provide for him all that he may require to
finalize this arrangement, please make sure to maintain a confidential and
Cordial relationship with him even in my absence because he is a very Trust
worthy and caring person. Please assure me that you will act just as I have
stated herein.

Hope to hear from you soon, it is well with you and members of your
family.Ensure to keep this very confidential for security reasons until the
funds are safe in your posses ion

With Love,
Lady Ruth Davies

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