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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: Catherine James <catherinejames4444@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:13:09 +0000
Subject: Apostolic Greetings To You From Mrs. Catherine James,

Apostolic Greetings To You From Mrs. Catherine James,

I know you will be surprise to read my email, apart from being
surprise you maybe skeptical to reply back to me because based on what
is going on in the internet world, one has to be very careful because
a lot of scam are out there to scam innocent citizen and this has made
it very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through
the internet but this is a different case.

With Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a
humanitarian ground, My name is Catherine James My nationality is
England, I am married to Mr Peter James director J.C Industries Cote
d'Ivoire West Africa.We were married for 36 years without a child. He
died after a Cadiac Arteries Operation. And Recently, My Doctor told
me that I would not last for the next six months due to my cancer
problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). Before my husband died last
year there is this sum $3.8 Million Dollars that he deposited with one
of the Bank here In Cote D'Ivoire West Africa, Presently this money is
still in the Vault of the Bank.

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to any good
God fearing brother or sister that will utilize this fund the way I am
going to instruct herein. I want somebody that will use this fund
according to the desire of my late.husband to help Lessprivilaged
people, orphanages,widows and propagating the word of God. I took this
decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this fund,
And I don’t want in away where this money will be used in an unGodly
way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this Fund.
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.

I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my
up coming Cancer Surgery. Write back as soon as possible any delay in
your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same
purpose, Hoping to read from you asap. God bless you as you listing to
the voice of reasoning. I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply
.

Remain blessed in the Lord.
Your's Sister In Christ, Madam Catherine James

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