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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: "Mrs. Joy Oswald" <skansecegy1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: nita_joy@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2023 12:48:04 +0100
Subject: Hello

--
Dearest in the Lord,

Out of due respect and humanity, let me first inform you that I
obtained your email address from a mailing directory and have decided
to mail you to allow to proceed.

I am Mrs Joy Oswald from Switzerland. I was married to Mr Tom Oswald,
who worked for a construction company in Asia for twenty years before
he died in the tsunami disaster and we were married without any
children.

Since his death, I have decided not to marry again. I will $5.5 million (550
million dollars) into the bank. Now I am willing to donate this $5.5
million to the underprivileged to contribute to church development in
Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

My deceased husband was very wealthy and after he passed away I
inherited all his business and wealth which is still in the bank and
management just wrote me to collect the money as a beneficiary or
rather Send a letter authorizing someone to receive it on my behalf if
I cannot come.

I'm currently in a hospital where I've been being treated for lung
cancer and I've lost the ability to speak since then and my doctor
told me I only have a few months to live. Note that this money is held
in the bank.

I want someone I can trust who will use 90% of this money to fund
churches, orphanages and widows around the world, but in my name, Mrs
Joy Oswald
"Once I hear back from you, I will give you the bank's contact
details. I will also issue you a power of attorney certifying that you
are the new beneficiary of the fund.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I declare here and
keep this contact confidential until the funds reach your custodian,
this is to ensure that nothing will jeopardize my last on earth a
wish.


thank you and god bless you
I await your urgent reply.
greeting,
Mrs Joy Oswald

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