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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: Mary Jefffrey <maryjefffrey@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 03:01:13 -0800
Subject: Church of God Almighty and Mrs Mary Jeffrey.

Dearest in Christ,

I am Mrs. Mary Jeffrey from Kuwait. I am married to late Mr. James
Jeffrey, who worked with Kuwait Embassy in Ivory Coast for Twenty-Six
years before he died in the year 2006,after a brief illness that
lasted for only five days.

We were married for Eighteen years with a daughter (Hannah) who later
died in a motor accident. Before the untimely death of my husband, we
were both born again Christians. Since after his death 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$6.5M) (six Million, Five hundred Thousand United States Dollar) in
a General Trust Account with HSBC Bank in London.

Presently, this money is still with the bank. Recently, following my
ill health, my Doctor told me that I may not last for the next eight
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 Christian organization (Church) that will utilize this money
the way I am going to instruct herein, according to the desire of my
late husband before his death. I want this fund to be used in
Christian Activities like, Orphanages, Christian schools, and Churches
for propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God
is maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that
giveth". I took this decision 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 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 telephone communication in this regard because of my
health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always.
I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things
are possible.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
bank in London. I will also issue you the documents that will prove
you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the Church to
always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is
that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that Wants to serve
the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be
prayerful all through your life.

Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another Church
for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly
as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply. Remain blessed in
the Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Mary Jeffrey

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