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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: Grace Micheal <grace.micheal@faithserve.com>
Reply-To: gracemicheal4@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:09:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello My Beloved One In Christ.



Hello My Beloved One In Christ.

I greet you with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, It is true that this letter may come to you as a surprise. Nevertheless, I humbly ask you to give me your attention and hear me well.
 
My name is Mrs.
Grace Micheal from Australia. I am marrried to Dr Micheal who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast (Cote D'ivore) for a period of 8 years before he died. We were marrried for 9 years without a child before he died after a brief illness.
 
Since his death I decided not to remarry due to my religious belief. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$6.7m(Six Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State American dollars ) with a Bank in Cote D'ivoire. Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in Cote D'ivoire. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Four months due to cancer illness.
 
Having known my condition i decided to donate this money to churchs, organisation or good person that will utilise this money the way i am going to instruct here in.
 
I want you to use this money for churchs, Mosque, charity, orgasation,orphanages,widowsand other people that are in need.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money. moreover,my husband relatives are not close to me since I devolop a Cancer problem and it had been their wish to see me dead in order to inherit his wealt since we have no child. These people are not worthy of this inheritance.This is why i am taking this decition. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my ill-health. As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the bank in Cote D'ivore where this money is deposited. I will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. I also want you to always put me in prayers.


  
Any delay in your reply may give me room to look for another good person for this same purpose.  Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Hoping to receive your response soonest.
 
Thanks and Remain blessed .
Yours sister in the lord,
 
Mrs Grace Micheal.

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