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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 Keith <mary.keith1@btopenworld.com>
Reply-To: mary.keith1@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 04:01:12 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearest in Christ:


Dearest in Christ:
 
A very nice day to you,
 
I am Mrs Zenab al-Rasheed by Islamic name before I repented and named (Sister Mary) in Christianity name. I am from Saudi Arabia and married to late Mr Mohammed Ahmad al-Rasheed who was the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Ivory Coast before he was murdered. We married each other for good eleven years without having a child.
 
You can click on the below website to read the news about my late husband.
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/03/28/819242.htm
 
After his burial ceremonies was conducted by his Muslim brothers, I repented and became a fully born again Christian through the preaching of late Rev Father Joseph Bill during his condolence visit to me when he visited IVORY COAST. I was touched by the spirit of GOD through his preaching and became repented as a Christian and I was given Sister Mary as baptized name. So I decided not to remarry again or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against according to Christianity doctrines because I fully believed, if my late husband was alive, he would have also repented and get baptize too.
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (Two Million Nine Hundred and Fifty thousand Dollars) $2,950,000.00 Dollars here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire for future investment in clued oil refinery before he died in the year 2003 during the political crisis and up till date the money still remained untouchable. After his death I decided to donate the money to charity organization, that is why I contacted you. I would have donate the funds here in Ivory Coast but due to the amount of corruptions were the Ivory Coast Government embezzled some European Union aid to the charities, I became afraid of them to donate the funds over here. For more information, you can click the below website to read the news of Ivory Coast Government embezzled the European Union aid Fund.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/443903.stm
 
Recently, my doctor revelled to me that I will be having some few period to live due to my cancer decease and having known my present condition of health will result. I decided to donate the money out as my spirit directed me.
I want you that will use the money to help widows, disabilities, orphanage & churches to see that the house of GOD is well maintained.
 
The Holy Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth that is why I took this decision for almighty God in heaven to accept my husband soul and I whenever it may occur, because I don't have any child that will inherit the wealth and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my late husband's efforts to be use by unbelievers.
 
I don't want a situation whereby the money will be use ungodly way. That is why I am taking this decision. Not that I am 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.
 
As Muslim tradition describe, if I mistakenly go back to Saudi Arabia, believed me, I will be stolen overnight by my late husband's relatives and even my own parent will support them in any action they decided to take against me as they are the same Muslim. So that is why I don't want them to know about this project.
 
As soon as I receive your response I shall give you further information’s about the money because I can't figure out what may happen next to me as the medical experts observed in me. But please you should always pray for my survival though my greatest happiness today is that I live a life of a worthy Christian since I became a born again Christian and whosoever wants to serve GOD should serve him in truth and spirit as the HOLY BIBLE said.
 
I look forward to hearing from you
 
Thanks and remain bless in the Lord
 
Yours in Christ
Sister Mary

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