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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 ESTHER CHAJEM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <faithofall@bell.net>
Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 11:52:38 -0000
Subject: Greetings Dear beloved

Greetings Dear beloved,
 
I'm Mrs. Esther Chajem, widow to Late Sir. Roger Chajem, an Ex-petrolium engineer with PETROCI Oil Company in Cote d'Ivoire who died along with our only son on air crash during their vacation trip to the Canary Islands, Spain on Wednesday, 20 August, 2008.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7572643.stm
Since their deaths, I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home since I'm now 68years old but also the Bible is against because i'm born again Christian.
When my husband was alive, he deposited a concealed box containing the sum of $5m with a Security firm in Cote d'Ivoire which he intended to use for a real estate project.
 
And the security firm wrote me a week ago as the next of kin asking me to come for vault renewal or to come and claim the box. I can't do this myself becos I am presently in a hospital where I've been taking treatment for cancer of the lungs and High Blood Pressure since my doctors have told me that I have only about four months to live.
 
That is why I have decided to use this fund for charity work to the benefit of the less fortunate. I have no family who can do this for me, so I decided to look for a sincere person or family who can use 80% of the fund to run the charity to help the motherless babies, help victims of nature, supporting destitute aged men and women.
 
I don't ask anything in return of this decision, only always pray for me. As you respond, send your full name, your resident address, telephone and fax number to enable me swear an Affidavit of oath that will empower you to claim the box from the security firm without any hindrances to accomplish my vow to God.
 
I want you to promise me that you will use this fund exactly as I have said.
I await your urgent reply
Mrs. Esther Chajem.

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