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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. Caroline Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <upscourierservice@jmail.co.za>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:00:13 -0700
Subject: Dear in Christ

Dear in Christ,
I am the above named person from Kuwait. I am married to Mr. Williams who worked with Kuwait embassy in Cotonou Benin Republic for nine years before he died in the year 2006. We were married for nineteen years with a child He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, we were both born again Christian. Since 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 left the sum of $6.5Million in fixed deposit. And the money is converting on ATM Card.
 
Now i want you to contact UPS COURIER Company with your Full Contact information's so that they can deliver the Card to your designated address without any delay. Like i stated earlier, the delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fees since they refused. They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you are going to contact them and demurrage might have increase.
They told me that their keeping fees are $25 per day and i deposited it on Monday this week. Below is their Contact Information's, Contact Person: Mr. SAMUEL PAUL UPS Delivery Company Email: upscourierservice@jmail.co.za ) Contact Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me know once you receive your kind.
Recently due to my health condition which is the reason that i seek your assistance in this mail, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Two months due to cancer of the lungs that i have. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness that affects me and i can no longer talk.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a trustworthy person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want you to use this fund for orphanages, widows, 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 grivet.
I want you and your family 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 person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Caroline Williams
 

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