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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: "Mrs. Shirley Walter" <Mrs_shirlywalter@w.cn>
Reply-To: mrs_shrleywalter@w.cn
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:10:49 +0900 (KST)
Subject: VERY URGENT PLEASE




From: Mrs. Shirley Walter
Accra, Ghana

My Dear Beloved one in Christ
I got your esteem contact out of desperate search. Your efficiency mercy
is needed. Am married to late Mr. Terry Walter. Of blessed memory who was
assassinated along Airport road here in Republic of Ghana in the year
2005.

Before his death we were both born again Christians, his sudden death
affected my Blood pressure which ultimately led me having a stroke attack
despite that i already had hepatocellular cancer of the liver which i have
been suffering from Since when he was alive. My happiness is that i lived
a life of a true devoted Christian, whoever wants to serve the Lord must
serve him in truth and in spirit - Always being fair & sincere in all your
dealings. Please always be prayerful all through your life because it is
the key for an eternal life after death.

Recently, my doctor told me that i may not live beyond the next three
months due to my peculiar health situation. Based on that, i have decided
to donate this fund to either a Christian organization or Christian
individual that will utilize it the way am going to instruct here. When my
late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $ 7.million United State
Dollars (Seven Million U.S. dollars) with one of the Security Company here
in Ghana. Please am pleading with you in the name of almighty, if you know
that you cannot Utilize this Fund the way am going to instruct you here,
don’t bother to reply back to me so i can remain at peace with our
creator. Am not afraid of my death because i know I will rest in the right
hand side of God.


Instructions


(1) I want you to donate $20,000(Twenty thousand dollars) to orphanage,
widows & destitute.
(2) I want you to donate $25, 000(Twenty five hundred thousand dollars) to
any living church (es) you know that the presence of God is, that is still
under construction so that they can complete the building
(3) I am offering you 20% of the total sum for your assistance.

Furthermore, my problem is that I adopted a child from the orphanage home.
I adopted her because of my condition that I cannot bear a child. I want
you to use the rest money and take care of my only daughter, and keep the
rest for her till when she comes up to age. My only daughter is 13 years
old, her name is Becky Walter (thirteen years) when you claim the money
she will come over to your country, because my husband's relatives are new
Hindu converts and I don’t want her to be trained in Hindu religion. And I
don't want our hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers.

The holy bible emphasizes so much on goodness, and this has encouraged me
to take this bold step. Note that as you set your mind to do this good
work for me, you are responding to the call of God who will instruct and
guide you all the way through it all. I know that after death i will be
with God, the most Holy and the most merciful Father. As soon as I receive
your reply I will give you the contact of the Security Company where the
Fund is deposited. I will also issue you a letter of authorization which
will authorize you to receive the funds as an authorized fronted
beneficiary I want you and the Christian community where you reside to
always pray for me. Any delay in your replying it will give me room in
sourcing for a Christian organization or devoted Christian for this same
purpose. Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your
shoulders. May the almighty God continue to guide and protect you.

Here is my direct telephone number at the hospital, you can call me on
(+233206373393) please whenever you call my husband relatives are around
me at the hospital the Doctor will pick your call, please explain to him
whom you are because I have already told him everything, But if they are
not around me at the hospital i will pick because I don’t want my
husband’s relatives around me at the hospital to know about this; Please
send your direct telephone number for easier communication (in case, i may
need to reach you urgently on phone).

This offer must be kept secret, because whosoever that is sowing a seed to
the Lord, most be honest and keep it within him/herself. If you find this
letter offensive, please ignore it and accept my apologies.

Regards,

Yours sister in the Lord,
Mrs Shirley Walter

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