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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: SALOME STEWART <salome.stewart4@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: salome29stewart@yahoo.cn
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:53:21 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Donation from Mrs Salome Stewart


Donation from Mrs Salome Stewart
Address: 12b Islamabad Av. Marcoury,
Abidjan-Cote D' Ivoire
 
Dearest one in the Lord ,
 
Greetings in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour, I am Mrs Salome Stewart married to Mr.Richmond Stewart who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for many years . My matrimonial situation is that I lost my husband and two kids in Motor accident on 27 December 2008.
 
I am suffering from Throat Cancer and I am suffering very bitterly as I write you this  message with help of a Sister in Christ Mrs Joy Kenndy,my doctor just informed me that my days are counted considering my health status.
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of Three million five hundred thousand dollars in Bank of Africa Cote D' Ivoire ($3.500.000.00USD)
 
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 wanted a gracious way and a way to help the less-privileged; I count on your sincere willingness to employ this fund in a Godly manner.
 
Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back to me as soon as possible with the below information to enable me obtain an authorization letter that legally and officially approved you the new beneficiary of my inheritance from Ministry of Justice-
Cote D' Ivoire so that immediately the authorization is ready, I will send it to you with the contact of the bank. 
 
1. Full Name....
2. Address....
3. Nationality....
4. Occupation....
5. Date of Birth....
 
Yours Sister in Christ
Mrs Salome Stewart

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