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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@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:47:05 -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 Accra GHANA, 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 Financial Security Firm here in
GHANA 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 Financial Security Firm. I will also issue
to the Financial Security Firm 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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