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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: priscalevry4@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:26:37 -0200
Subject:

My Dear,
 
Greetings to you in the name of our God. I am Mrs.Prisca Lévry from France. I was married to Mr. françois Lévry who worked with France 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 Him.  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 ac tualize.
 
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 US$7.8 million dollars in a bank here in 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,It is my last wish to see that these my late husband 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. I want your good humanitarian to also use these money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around your environments.

I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards these issue because I have no furth er option, 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 hope you will help see my last wishes come true.Please my dear beloved i expect your reply either you are a Muslim or Christian we are servicing the same God in heaven.
 
As soon as I receive your reply. I will 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. Hope to hear from you soonest.

I await your reply

Yours sincerly sister,
Mrs.Prisca Lévry
 

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