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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: Charity Johnson <charity_johnson01@att.net>
Reply-To: mrs_charityjohnson41@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:34:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear beloved in Lord i need your urgent assistant.

Dearest Beloved in the Lord.

Donation From Mrs Charity Johnson.

My greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I know my mail will come to you as a surprise, due to the fact we have never met before But I have a special reason why I decided to contact you. I decided to contact you because of the urgency of my situation, It is with tears that I am writing this message to you from a hospital bed, l Am happy to request for your assistance because I believe that you are not going to betray the trust which I am going to lay on you, Hope all is well with you and the members of your family.

My name is Mrs Charity Johnson I am married to (Eng Mr Johnson Robert) from South Africa (S.A) who has an appointment in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire as the chief Managing director to (Cocoa Farmer Association Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire) under Engineering project/contract awarding section. My husband died as a result of brief illness called heart attack, while he was coming back from (SA) new location area on project inspection on Saturday 10th December 2007. Before his death as a result of our joint account venture we have ( $1.5 million (US) dollars) in our fixed deposit account. Before the death of my late husband we were both born again Christian.and Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve Him in spirit and truth.Dear Beloved in the Lord my late husband is archdeacon in the St.Micheal'sarchdeaconry in Cote D'Ivoire for nine years before he died.

Dear one I was brought up as an orphan and was married to my late husband for 10years without a child and am of age, I am 50 years now and am suffering from kidney infection and a long time cancer of the lungs, which has partially affected my brain, and from all indication my condition is really deteriorating. According to my doctors, my health is very poor because of the cancer ailment, I can not stay to live up three months ahead, and I am having serious problem with my husband's family members. 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 course and I shall hold my peace.I decided to donate this fund to a church, Therefore I need a God fearing person who will assure me that he/she will use this fund to help the Motherless babies,and widows, Orphanage, Charity organization and less privileged once, and using for word of God.

The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that give. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money. As soon as I receive your reply I will also issue a letter of authorization to the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. I also want you, Church or Organization to always pray because I don't have many days to live. for me because the Lord is my only Shepard. 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 through your life.

Pls any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another good person, church or organization for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.i am writing this mail with the help of one Sister in the Hospital here, Hoping to receive your response immediately,

Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,

Mrs Charity Johnson

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