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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 Caldwell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.ecaldwell@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 03:36:33 -0500
Subject: PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

Hello Beloved,
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD. As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me,
because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mrs. Esther Caldwell, From Solomon Island, I was
married to late Dr. Anthony  Caldwell, a contractor with United Nations in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire, West Africa,
where we live all our Lives for Thirty-two years before he died in the year 2010, My husband died after a
protracted illness in October 7th, 2010. Our life together as husband and wife lasted for about Thirty-two years
without a child.
My late husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals in the society,
as we both had passion for those people who cannot help themselves due to physical disability or financial
predicament.
 
I can adduce the fact that, we needed a Child from our marriage which never came. When my late husband
was alive, he invested in stocks the sum of Eleven Million United States dollars ($11,000,000.00), which he
derived from his vast investment in capital market with a Security Company here in ABIDJAN and named me as
the sole beneficiary of this trust funds upon his demise (all records are kept with my family lawyer).Presently,
the funds are still with the Security Company.
 
From all indication my condition is really deteriorating,and my Doctors have courageously Advise me that I have
limited days to live, due to the cancer stage has reached a critical stage, but What bothers me most is the
Hypoglycemia that I have in addition with the cancerous ailment.
 
With the hard reality that has befallen me, I have decided to donate the funds to you and I want you to use the
Donation which comes from my late husband effort to establish a charity Foundation called “Caldwell’s Orphanages
and Children’s Homes” for the upkeep of widows, orphans, destitute, the down- trodden, physically challenged children,
barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially around you, as it is often said that
blessed is the hand that giveth.
 
I took the bold decision to contact you, because I do not have any child to inherit the money and my late husband
relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons that will misuse and invest the money into ill perceived ventures
if willed to them, instead of helping the poor in a worthy manner.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company. I will also issue to the Security
Company a letter of authority which will prove that you are my new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that
you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hope to hear from you soonest.
 
Your Dying Sister In Christ,
Mrs. Esther Caldwell

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