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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: "Help" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahjohnson11@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:12:56 +0200
Subject: FROM MRS.SARAH JOHNSON(PLEASE HELP ME OUT)

Dear Sir,
 
I am Mrs. Sarah Johnson from Ghana, presently staying in Germany. I am married to Mr. Johnson Williams who worked with Nigeria embassy in Loma-Togo
 
for Ten years before he died in the year 2008.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 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 the sum of $9.8Million (NINE Million Eight hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) with one security company in
 
Europe. Presently, this money is still with the Security Company.  Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due
 
to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to keep this fund in Europe. I want an
 
organization or an individual that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is
 
maintained. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. 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 husbands  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 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 inform the security company in Europe that you are the beneficiary of the said consignment you will need to go and claim this
 
fund in Europe.
 
I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the   present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the organization 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 all through your life. Any 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. And Remain blessed in the Lord.
 
 
Yours in Christ.
 
Mrs Sarah Johnson.


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