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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: "JOHN SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjssmit@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 08:51:26 -0700
Subject: DEAR BELOVED

DEAR BELOVED

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MR. JOHN SMITH A CITIZEN OF NETHERLAND BUT PRESENTLY IN UK WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, I AM 50 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER , FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON’T LIVE MORE THAN ONE YEAR, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE,MY LATE WIFE DIED LAST FIVE YEAR,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD’NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE WIFE WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HER DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HER BUSINESS AND WEALTH.

THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHURCH IN AFRICA, AMERICA,ASIA,AND EUROPE.

I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $15,000,000,00,USD( FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT THIS FUND IS IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON,UK. ONCE I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO GET THE FUND RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SO I CAN FORWARD IT TO MY LAWYER WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE THE TRANSACTION WITH YOU AND LEAD, ADVICE YOU ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GET THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT THE BRIDGE OF LAW.

NAME :
CONTACT ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
POSITION:
MARITAL STATUS :
SEX:
AGE:
PRIVATE FAX NO:
PRIVATE PHONE NO:

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST.

MR. JOHN SMITH

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