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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.Ruth Smith" <ruthsmith203@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 11:32:01 -0800
Subject: REPLY NOW

Hello:

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am Mrs. Ruth Smith, A widow to Late Mr. John Smith, I am
73years old, and I am now a new Christian convert, suffering
from long time cancer of the ear. From all indications my
condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious
that I won't live long according to my doctors.

This is because my cancer stage has gotten to a very bad
stage. My late husband was killed during the U.S raid,
against terrorism in Afghanistan when he traveled to
Afghanistan to monitor a Hospital/a Humanitarian Found at
(HHF) he was setting up for the benefit of the Afghan masses
as of then; whose majority and 99 percent of them are
Muslims/ Islamic scholars and loyalists. During the period
of our marriage we couldn’t produce any child.. My late
husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited
all his businesses and wealth, and when I noticed that my
condition is not improving rather it gets worsen by the day
I decided to divide part of this wealth, to contribute to
Charity and the development of the churches in Africa,
America, Asia and Europe. I selected you after visiting the
internet and I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the
fund to you for charity, the less privileged, churches,
orphanages and widows, Propagating the word of God and to
ensure that the house of God is maintained.

I took this decision upon myself because I don't have any
child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives
are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned
money to be misused by unbelievers. Because I have come to
find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity
upon vanity.

Please I want you to note that this fund was deposited in a
BANK for security purpose. And upon my instruction, my late
husband’s lawyer will file application to the BANK for the
release of the consignment to you. May the Grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you and your family. Await Your Urgent
Reply via this e-mail address:
( ruthsmith203@yahoo.com ) any delay in your reply will
give me room in sourcing for a church, another person or
Christian individual for this same purpose.

Yours in Christ
Ruth Smith
Love & Prayers
Email: ruthsmith203@yahoo.com

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