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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: REGINA CARLOS <regina.carlos@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: regina_carlos@cantv.net
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:19:29 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear in the lord




Dear in the lord,
I am Mr REGINA CARLOS from Kumassi. I am married to Mr CARLOS JIM who
worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for fourteen years as an enginner before he died in the year 2003.We were married for thirteen years without a child of ours. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only eight days.
Before his death we were both born again Christian. 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 a box containing the sum of
$4M (FOUR MILLION) U.S Dollars in one of the security company here
in Abidjan.
The shock of my husband sudden death increases my sickness very high and
since then I have been going from one professional doctor to another for
treatment, but recently, my present doctor told me that I may not last more than this year due to my cancer problem is getting worse. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to
a church that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I
want a church or Individual that will use this fund for orphanages, widows,
propagating the word of God and to endeavour to maintained the house of God.
The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that gives". I took
this decision 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 efforts
to be used by unbelievers.
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 right hand of the almighty god. Exodus 14 VS 14
says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I will give
you the contact of the security company here Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire. I will also issue you an authorisation letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and
the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. 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 throughout your life. Any delay in your reply may give me room in sourcing another church for the same purpose. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I Stated here in.
you are blessing in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
REGINA

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