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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: "Ruth Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ruthsmith2201@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2018 13:18:53 -0800
Subject: REPLY

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:( ruthsmith2201@gmail.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: ruthsmith2201@gmail.com

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