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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: Helen Buchanan <helen.buchanan@xtra.co.nz>
Reply-To: helen.buchanan5@btinternet.com
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 14:59:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dearest in Christ


Dearest in Christ,
I am Mrs. Helen Buchanan from Switzerland. I am married to Engr. Joseph Buchanan who was the Chief Executive Director of an Oil and Gas producing Company in France for eleven years before he transfer down to Cote d'Ivoire, but unfortunately he died in the plane crash that occurred Wednesday 20 August 2008 at Barajas airport in Spain. The plan taking off en route to a Canary Islands
 
Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$4.2million Dollars in a (Finance and Storage Security Company here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire). Presently, this money is still in the Company in Cote d'Ivoire and I don't want to leave it there because of my illness. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next five months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. 

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity organization that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want an organization that will use this fund for orphanages, school and church, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that give. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my late husband uncles are very wicked. 

I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. 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 case and I shall hold my peace". I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the company where that fund was deposited.

My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Please get back to me as soon as you receive this massage so that I will give you the Contact of the storage company. Delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another Person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Remain blessed in the Lord
Yours in Christ
Mrs. Helen Buchanan



 
 

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