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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: "Selina Tyler" <mrsselina@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2011 09:31:18 -0800
Subject: Hello dearest one

Hello dearest one.

It is good writing you today although we haven't known nor
met each other before. It is true that this letter may
come to you as a surprise. Nevertheless, I humbly ask you
to give me the benefit of doubt and hear me out.

My name is Mrs. Selina from Solomon Islands. I am married
to Mr. Tyler who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast (
Cote D'ivoire ) for a period of 9 years before he died .
We were married for 12 years without a child. He died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.

Since his death I decided not to remarry due to my
religious belief . When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of US$6.400,000 (six million four
houndred thousand American 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
that I would not last for the next Eight months due to
cancer illness.

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to
a church, organisation or good person that will utilise
this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

I want a church, organisation or good person that will use
this funds to help the orphans, widows and other people
that need financial assistance. Using part of this money
to build companies and establish businesses that will
create job opportunities for the jobless population. l
took this decision because I don't have any child that
will inherit this money . Moreover, my husband relatives
are pagans and it had been their wish to see my husband
dead in order to inherit his wealth since we have no son.
These people are therefore not worthy of this inheritance.
This is why I am taking this decision.

I don't need any telephone communication in this regard
because of my ill-health since the presence of my
husband's relatives are around me always. I don't want
them to know about this development for security reasons.

As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the
contact of the Bank in Cote d'ivoire where this fund is
deposited. I will also issue a letter of authorisation to
the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of
this money. I also want you to always uplift me in prayer.

Hoping to receive your response soonest.

Thanks and Remain blessed .

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Selina

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