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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 Victoria Balli <mrsballi@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:38:48 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearly Beloved.






Dearly Beloved.

 

Calvary greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am
Mrs. Victoria Balli, I am a nationality of the United Kingdom, and I am
presently hospitalized, due to my illness. 
I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer for about
two years. I am a widow to Late Mr. William Balli. You see, my husband was once
the Managing Director of Shell Oil Company in South Africa, where we spent most
of our lives and I have served the Lord all through my life.

 

From all indications, my condition is serious and is quite
obvious that I may not live more than six months, because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very severe state and my doctor has told me this. The one that
disturbs me most is the stroke that paralyzed half of my body before my late
husband was killed during his reign as the Managing Director of Shell Oil
Company.

 

My late husband was wealthy and after his death, I inherited
all His business and wealth. Presently my doctor told me that I may not live
for more than six months, though I am not scared about this, I am not afraid of
death, hence I will be in the bosom of the Lord forever, any time my God calls
me home. So, I now decided to look for an organization or an individual who is
God fearing, that will use the funds for charity organization, by contributing
to the development of evangelism in the world, assisting motherless babies
homes and poor churches all over the world.

 

I selected you after searching the Internet for this purpose
and prayed over it, for the fact that I always go to God in prayers in
situation like this, because He is the Alfa and Omega. I am willing to donate
half of my husbands wealth to you for the development of evangelism and also as
aids for the less privileged around you rather than allow my husbands relatives
to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly. You may contact my lawyer, James
Cole, with the specified address-:

 

CHAMBERS OF James Cole

Barrister James Cole

9 Bedford Row London WC1R 4AZ

E-Mail: james_cole_lawfirm@mail2ohio.com

Phone: +44-702-404-1690

 

Ensure that you copy this correspondence to his email
address above and tell him that I have asked you to reach him. Please, do not
reply if you have the intention of using this fund for personal use, you will
have a reasonable percentage of the total funds before investing the remainder
of the funds for God`s works. Lastly, I want you and your church to keep
praying for me regarding my health, because I have come to find out that wealth
acquisition without Jesus Christ in one's life, is vanity upon vanity. If you
have to die says the Lord, keep fit and I will give you the crown of life.  May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
love of God, and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and
forever more, amen.

 

Goodluck in all your future endeavors and God bless you.

 

Thanks,

 

Mrs. Victoria Balli.

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