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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: "mrsfota.lima" <fotalima31@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:30:00 -0300
Subject:

 
 My Dearest in the Lord,   
 
Calvary greetings to you in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ. I am Mrs. Fota Lima from Kuwait. I was married to Mr. JOSHUA Lima who worked with Kuwait embassy in Cote d'Ivoire for nine years before he died last year. We were married for eleven years without a child. My husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians.
 
My dear, I know that you are surprise on receiving this letter, but as a child of the living God, you should know that our ways is not his ways. My Bible tells me that he works in many ways and all things works out for good to them that believed in Christ Jesus.  In fact, It is also by the leading of the holy spirit of God that I choose you in obedience and love to fulfill the desire of my late husband that I supported to the glory of God. I want you to understand that this benevolence is in fulfillment of the desire and decision of my late husband which I am persuaded to actualize.
 
Since the death of my beloved husband, I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($3,500,000.00) million dollars in a bank here in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire. Presently, this money is still in the bank.
 
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the period of nine months due to my cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity organization, church, Christian organization, or a true believer that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.
 
I want this fund to be used for orphanages, schools, churches, widows, and the less privilege people in propagating the word of God and to make sure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand t hat "B le ssed is the hand that gives". I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are unbelievers and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers.
 
I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. 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". I don't need any telephonic communication in this regard because of my health condition and  the presence of my late husband's relatives around me always trying to claim this money from me which my husband left for me. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible.
 
I will want you to handle this on your own since my health can not allow me as I have been placed on medical dialysis check up perio dic ally. As soon as i hear from you then i will give you more details regarding the transfer iof the fund.
 
I am hoping to receive your urgent reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ
Mrs Fota Lima.

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