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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 JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 06:02:29 -0800
Subject: GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GIVER!

Mrs maria johnson
12 Alnwick Road
Lee
London
SE12 9BT
U.k.

GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GIVER!
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I am Mrs.Maria Johnson
A widow to the Late Sheik Mohammed Johnson, I am 73 years
old,
I am now a new Christian convert,suffering from long time
cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is
really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't
live long according to my doctors. This is because the
cancer stage
has gotten to a very bad stage.
My late husband was killed during the U.S raid against
terrorism
in Afghanistan when he travelled to Afghanistan to monitor
an
Hospital/a Humanitarian Foundation (HHF) he was setting up
for
the benefit of the Afghan masses as of then, whose majority,
and 99 percent of them are muslims/ islamic scholars and
loyalists.
During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any
child.
My late husband was very wealthy and after his death ,
I inherited all his businesses and wealth, and when i
noticed that my
condition is not improving rather it gets worsen by the day
i decided
to divide part of this wealth, to contribute to Charity
and the development of the churches in Africa, America, Asia
and Europe.
I selected you after visiting the internet and I prayed over
it.
I am willing to donate the fund to you for charity,the less
priviledged,
churches,orphanages and widows, Propagating the word of God
and
to ensure that the house of God is maintained.I took this
decision
upon myself because I don't have any child that will inherit
this
money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I
don't want
my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers.
because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition
without
Christ is vanity upon vanity.
Please I want you to note that, this fund is deposited with
a
Security Firm in London England. and upon my instruction,
you will file in an application for the transfer of the
fund in your name which i registered as a gold bar with
the security company
Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when transferred
will be used for the said purpose.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God, and
the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family.
Await Your Urgent Reply,any delay in your reply will give me
room in sourcing for a church, another person or christian
individual
for this same purpose.
Please reply me through this email address:
johnsonmaria@in.com
Yours in Christ.
maria johnson

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