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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 Estelle" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msformanestelle@yahoo.it>
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 21:53:36 -0300
Subject: PERSONAL MESSAGE

>From Mrs. Estelle Forman of Netherlands
Please Endeavor to Use it on Churches and Orphanages
Dear In The Lord,
 
I am the above named person from Netherlands .I am married to Dr. Maxwell Forman, who worked with Netherlands Embassy here in London for nine years before his death on December 2009.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, we were both born again Christians. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $25.6 Million Dollars with a Bank in United States of America.
 
Presently, this money is still with the bank of USA, And the management of this Bank wrote to me as the beneficiary to step forward and claims my late husband fund, or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I cannot come to Us, due to my illness here in London, in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer which had indicated to my Doctor that I would not last for the next four months according to his statement.
 
It is my last wish to see this money distributed to charity organizations, churches because our relatives have plundered so much of our wealth since my husband's death and my illness too.  I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them. Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me and utilize the above mentioned funds and its interest and distribute it accordingly.
 
Having known my Condition I decided to donate this fund to church or a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here. I want a  person that has God fearing in him/her. Someone that will use this money on churches, or orphanages etc propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. Because my Bible made me to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money. My husband relatives are not Christians and I Don't want this hard earned money to be misused by Unbelievers. I don't want a Situation where this money will be used in an ungodly Manner.
 
My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. So I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the Bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that; the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
 
As soon As I receive your reply with your name and house address and a copy of your identification I shall inform the bank immediately about you and also introduce you to the bank where my late Husband deposited his Fund, I will Also issue you a letter of authorization that will empower you as the rightful beneficiary next of kin to my late husband, Meanwhile I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my Shepherd.
 
Please my doctor advice me not to have any telephone communication because of my health condition so I only have communication access because am with my laptop here at the hospital so I don’t need any telephone communication in this regard to this Donation Fund because my late husband's relatives are around me always so I don’t want them to  know about this development. Any delay in your Reply will give me room in searching for a church or Christian individual for this same purpose so your urgent response is needed immediately.
 
 
Yours Sister in the Lord,
Mrs. Estelle Forman
 

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