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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: "Rev. William Keith Ellison" <nick55cole@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: revwilliamkeithellison2002@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:32:45 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear beloved one in christ,




Dear beloved one in christ,

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I came across  your email contact from my personal search and I instructed the doctor  here in these hospital to help me email you and I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.


I am Rev. William Keith Ellison from Alabama United State of America, I am  69 years old, I am deaf,dumb and currently suffering from a long time   cancer of the heart. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctor have advised that I may not live beyond the  next two months. The cancer stage has reached a ritical stage. I was  brought up in a motherless home, and was married to my late wife for  twenty years without a child.


My wife and I are true Christian's,we lived all day in Canada, since he  was working here as a contractor, but quite unfortunately,he died in a  fatal motor accident.Since his death I decided not to re-marry and because  of my bad stage of health,I sold all my inherited belongings to me and my  late husband and deposited all the total sum of $25.8million dollars and  jewelries Diamonds and Golds with the Barclays Bank Canada.


Presently, this money is still in the BANK, and the management of the  Barclays Bank (Canada) and the informed me as the Legitimate beneficiary  to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or  rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my  behalf since I can not come over as a result of my lness, or the fund  will be confiscated. Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I  have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to talk and  my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.


It is my last wish to see that these my hard earn money is invested in any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charities organization, the poor and the motherless baby's home where I come from.I  want your good humanitarian,to also use these money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around yourenvironmnets.


I must let you know that these was a very hard decision, but I had to take  a bold step towards these issue because I have no further option, I hope  you will help see my last wishes come true. Please my dear beloved in  Christ, i await your reply. Either muslim or Christian, we are worshiping  the same Almighty God in.


As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank  in Canada. And i will also issue a letter of authority to the Bank, which  will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me  that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.


God bless you, as I await your reply.

Yours sincerly sister in Christ,
Rev. William Keith Ellison
revwilliamkeithellison2002@yahoo.com.hk

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