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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: SARAH THOMAS <sarah.thomas59@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: sarahthomas4all@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 22:09:20 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: My dear in the lord.


My dear in the lord.
 
I greet you in the name of the Lord.
I am mrs.Sarah Thomas of Kuwait. I am married to Mr. Steve Thomas who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died on 19 November 2005. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted only four days.
 
Never before his death we were both born again Christians and have been planted in many ministries. Since his death I decided not to marry, but feeling very lonely, if not the Lord, who has been my companion and comforter. When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of $ 7.5 million us 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 I would not last the next eight months due to cancer problem.
  
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
 
I want a church, organization or good person that will use this money to help orphans, widows and others who need financial assistance. Using some of this money to provide facilities for God's work, take the gospel to greater height is the main reason for the donation of funds from abroad. The Bible made us understand that "Blessed is the hand that gives." l took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and who had been his desire to see my husband dead, so they can inherit their property and I have no son. These people are therefore not worthy of this inheritance.
 
That's why I am taking this decision. Meanwhile, I'm not afraid of death hence I know where I'm going. It's just a sinner who's death is painful I do not need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I do not want them to know about this development and know that with God all things are possible.
 
As soon as we receive your response, I will give you the contact of the Bank in Cote d 'Ivoire. It shall also issue a letter of authorization for the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. I also want you to always lift me in prayer.
 
 My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Anyone who wants to serve the Lord must serve him in truth and faith, "serving him with everything he has, knowing that naked we come and naked we must go" any delay in your reply will give me the site in sourcing another good person, the church, organization for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I have said here.
 
Hoping to receive your response immedaitely.
 
Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
Your sister in Christ
sister Sarah Thomas

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