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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 Afred <afredcatherine@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Catherine Afred <catherineafred@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:46:08 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello Dear Respected One

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Sir/Madam,

I am Mrs. Catherine Afred, 65 years old, am married to late Mr. Hermann Afred, who worked with Israel Embassy here in for Twenty-Six years before he died in the year 2011, after a brief illness that lasted for only five days.

We were married for Eighteen years with a daughter Sylvie 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 amount of (Six Million, Five hundred Thousand dollars (6.5m $) in one of the prime bank here.

Recently, following my ill health, my Doctor told me that I may not last for the next six 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, Christians, 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 gift ".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 prime bank here where my late husband deposited the fund.

I will also issue you the documents that will prove you the present beneficiary of fund. I want you and you’re 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. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein on the way you are going to use this funds.
Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Catherine Afred

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