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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: LINDA OKONU <linda.okonu@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: linda.okonu@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 16:39:36 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: My Dear beloved one in Christ


My Dear beloved one in Christ
 
I am the above named person from Abidjan the capital of ivory coast . I am married to Late Okonu Koko of blessed memory who was a well known cocoa dealer  in Abidjan for through out his life before he died in the year 2005. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
 
 Before his death we were both born again Christians.
His sudden death rise my blood pressure which now lead to my stroke despite my formal cancer fibroid and tumour which I use to suffer when he was alive .
 
When my late husband was alive he packaged the sum of $ 4.000.000,00 (Four Million U.S. Dollars) in a hard metal trunk   box and deposited it with one of the Security Company here in Abidjan . As a result of high rate of conflate going on in this country as of then, Presently this money is still with the   Security Company .
 
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to those problems. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to either a Christians organisation or   Christians individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here
 
I want this Christians organisation or individual to use this money in all sincere ness to fund churches, orphanages, widows and also propagating the word of God and to ensure that the society upholds the views and beliefs of the holy Bible.
 
The holy Bible emphasized so much on God goodness and this has encouraged me to take this bold step. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are new Moslems converts and having posses all my husband properties that they can behold on due to my childlessness, so I decided to do something remarkable to my God   and I don't want my husband hard earned money to be misused by people I call unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I know that after death I will be with God the most Holy and the most
merciful.
 
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health because of the presence of my husband 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 Security Company . I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original-beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the Christian community where
you reside to always pray for me.
 
My happiness is that I lived a life of a true devoted Christian   worthy of emulation. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in truth and in fairness. Lease always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing For a Christian organisation or a devoted Christian for this same purpose.
Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders
May the almighty God continue to guide and protect you.
 
Regards, your sister
 
MRS Linda Okonu

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