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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: "JOY SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <joylot507@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2012 02:18:00 +0800
Subject: AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR GOD

Dear Child of God
 
I am divinely touched to offer my fortune to less privilege through you for
charity work. I am a widow and childless, as a result of my present
situation, I have nothing else in mind other than to help the poor according
to God's direction and wishes.  I am a nigerian woman, aged 55yrs, married to
late Mr Adam Smith, a british who died 3yrs ago.  Am right now suffering from
oesophageal cancer which has been my ailment for two years now and have undergone series of cancer treatments but to no avail.
 
Recently my doctor declared that I will not survive after diagnosis give or take in a months time. Therefore I have decided to seek for a God fearing personality through the internet who will handle my deposited funds wisely.
 
I will offer you $10 Million to take care of less privilege
with heartfelt love of God and humanity. I decided to hand you over this
money so that you will conduct vastly a charity work and dispense the money
to the glory of God. I have shorter days to live, therefore I have aportioned
30% of the total money for your personal use while 70% of the money will go
to the charity work.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the
contact email address of my lawyer, and also instruct him follow due process required to release the funds for transfer into your account for the charity work.
But I only wished to have assurance that you will utilize the money as I have instructed herein. This is my last wish, I grew up as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my
family member therefore I would not like any thing to jeopardize the charity
project as my last wish.
 
Please contact me through this email address for more clarification. (joylot507@yahoo.com)
 
Furnish me with your personal details such as:
 
Full Names:.............
Sex:........
Age:......
Religion:.........
Occupation:..........
Nationality.........
Address...........
Present Location.........
 
I await your immediate response.
Remain Blessed
Joy L. Smith
 

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