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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: "Annick Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <annickmartins1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09.36.50 +0100
Subject: My Contribution to Humanity

Mrs Annick Martins.
Avenue 26 Rue 17,
Treichville,Abidjan,
Cote D'ivoire.

Dear beloved child of the most high God, May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of god and the
communion of the Holy ghost be with you as you read this message, it is obvious, that this message will be
great surprise to you.

I am Mrs Annick Martins. I am married to Engr. Raymond Martins who was the Chief Executive Director of
an Oil and Gas producing Company here in Cote D'Ivoire for eleven years before he died on the 27Th of
November 2005. We were married for eleven years with-out a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted
for only four days. Before his sudden death, we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided
not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited
the sum of $6.7Million (Six Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State dollars) In one of the leading
banks here in Abidjan Cote D Ivoire, and advised me that he used my name as the next of kin and went
further to reveal to me that his primary purpose of the deposit was for oversea investments. He finally gave
me the legal document he used in depositing the money in the bank which I kept in a safe place.

Recently, my Doctor confirmed to me that I have serious sickness which is related to cancer problem, the
one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness which I developed after the shock of loosing my lovely
husband. Having known my condition now and considering the fact that I have limited time here on earth,
I have decided to donate this fund to a churches, orphanages or individual 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 the helping of the orphanages, widows, propagating
the word of god and to endeavour that the house of God is well maintained, For i know that my sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me in the
kingdom of god according to the book of [Romans 8:18]. Therefore i am giving out this donation in the
name of our Lord, for it is written that i should give, and it will be given to me, Blessed is the hand that
giveth, I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and I don't want my
husband's efforts to be in vain or his family to use it selfishly, I don't want a situation whereby this money
will be used in an ungodly way.

Please, let my donation be in secret between you and i,as it is written in the book of [ Matthew 6:3 - 4]
That when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand to know what your right hand is doing, that
your charitable deed may be in secret;and your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly. I
am not afraid of death since I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the
Lord, because the Lord has been my strenght and hope. As soon as I receive your reply in acceptance of
my donation, I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan Cote D' Ivoire . I want you and the
church to always pray for me.

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, and also remember me in prayers.
May Almighty make you an eternal Excellency and a joy of many generations....Amen? Hoping to receive
your reply and remain blessed in the Lord.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Annick Martins.

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