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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: Solomon Mrshelen <mrshelen_solomon61@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 20:05:22 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: Dearest in Christ,










 









 Dearest in Christ,
 
It is true that this medium of communication has been
 
 abused by bad persons, and i still believe that this is the fastest means of
 communication to people of God.I am Mrs Helen Solomon from France. I am
 married to Mr John Burson Solomon. He worked with france embassy inIvory
 Coast for nine years without a child before he died in the plane crash,
 American national Egypt Air Flight 1990 otherpassengers aboard.Since his
 
death, I have lived with the memories, fighting effortelessly to live a
 normal life but all to no avail. I suffered mentally and psychologically and
 shortly was diagnosed of Cancer.When my late Husband was alive he deposited
 the sum of $5.2Million (five Million two hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) in
 one of the Security Company here in Abidjan. Recently, my doctor told me
 
that I may not last for few months due to my cancer problem. Having known my
 condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or charity organisation
 that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a
 church or good child of God that will use this fund for orphanages, widows,
 propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is
 maintained. 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 case and I shall
 hold my peace? I dont need any telephone communication in this regard
 because of my health hence the presence of my husband relatives around me
 always.The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth?
 
I took this decision because I dont have any child that will inherit this
 money and my plenty of relatives are not Christians and I dont want our
 efforts to be used by unbelievers. I dont want a situation where this money
 will be used in an ungodly way.I want you and the church to always pray for
 me because the lord is my shephard. 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.Contact
 me on the above e-mail address and any delay in your reply will give me room
 in sourcing another church for this same purpose. Please assure me that you
 will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your Reply.Remain
 
blessed in the Lord. Yours in Christ,
 
Mrs Helen Solomon.

 



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