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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: "Mrs.Maria Simpson" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:10:43 +0100
Subject: PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MESSAGE REQUIRES URGENCY

Dear Beloved,

Heavenly Greetings, How are you hope you are keeping healthy, permitted me to ask
you if you are in full time ministerial word? is your ministry into humanitarian
activities? Compliments, Let me quickly introduce myself as Mrs. Maria Simpson,
married to Mr Mike Simpson, a South African, based business man in South Africa who until his
death was a timber export merchant here in South Africa Its a sorrowful thing to say that
he died in a fatal motor accident along side with our only son on the 10th of April 2013,
while coming back from a business meeting. (God knows best).

When my husband was alive, He deposited his life savings (US$15.5million) with a
bank here in South Africa with my name as the next of kin.

As God may have it, recently I was diagnosed of liver cancer, and the doctors said i
have just six months to live-In view of my condition, and the fact that I have nobody
to leave this money behind for, with the exception of my husband people who are not
Christians decided to donate this money to either a living Church, a person, or a
humanitarian organization that will use this money in propagating the good massage
and also taking care of the orphans, widows, and the needy generally.(2Cor:4:6-18-17).

By so doing, I would have succeeded in immortalizing the names of my late Husband
and my only Son. Beloved, though I am sick and dying, I am not afraid of death
because I know where I am going. My soul has found a resting place in the handsome
blossom of the Lord.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or persecution
(Rom 8:28-38 vs. 35) As soon as I receive your reply, I will give you the contact
of my lawyer that I had handed over all the documents to, and he will notify the
bank and all the legal documents that would warrant the transfer of the fund to you.

Please understand that this message requires urgency as my ill-health demands. Any
delay in your response will give me room to contact other person; I also want an
assurance that you will use this fund for the purpose I have stated herein.

Hope to hear from you. God, we pray for all those who, following the example of
Jesus, search and work for peace, proclaiming and building your reign. Increase
their strength and fill them with your grace. Kindly reply to my private E-mail for
more information address: MariaSimpson@safrica.com

Yours In Christ.
Mrs.Maria Simpson
Email: MariaSimpson@safrica.com

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