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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Faith Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <personalemail206@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:08:27 -0430
Subject: can i TRUST you?usr

I know this letter will definitely come as a surprise to you but I hope
as you read on, you will come to understand I have decided- after about
four and a half month of thinking about the whole issue- to seek your help in
carrying out my last wishes. I don't really know you but I have
prayed,thought about it and moreover I have no choice now and for another
reason I prefer not to disclose. My names are Mrs. Faith Williams.
 
I am 67 years old and I was born and brought up from a motherless baby's
home the Netherlands. I was married to my late husband for twenty years
and had two children but as God would have it. They died in an auto
accident six years ago.
 
Before this happened, my business and concern for making cash was all I
lived for. I never really cared about other values in life. But since the
loss of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families.
 
I have been helping orphans in orphanages/motherless baby's homes,
especially in Africa. I have also donated some funds for humanitarian aid
and rehabilitation of prostitutes in Rio de janiero, Brazil, when I was
healthier.
 
I know by now you might be wondering why this entire long story. I am a
new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, all
indication from my doctor that my conditions are really deteriorating and
it is quite obvious that i wouldn't live more than three months.
According to my doctors, and in all indication regards to medical
analysis, this is because the cancer disease has gotten to a very bad
stage that there is no hope for me to be a living person again.
 
I have also lost my ability to talk, due to this my poor health
condition. Presently I been hospitalized and my only means of
communication at the moment is by my email or sms message and I am here
with my laptop.
 
I am not afraid of death any longer though. Like I told you earlier, my
husbands business and mine really thrived when I was healthy and He been
alive. We really worked hard for the sake of our children. As my health
detracted, my extended family members swooped down on everything my
husband and I worked hard to earn.
 
Seeing that there are no offspring(s) to inherit it coupled with the fact
that I am dying. They never really liked me anyway but my husband stood
by me all those years. This is my plea; I made most of my cash through
exporting vintage wines to African countries like South Africa.
 
I had to sell all my inherited belongings and deposited with a security company. Presently, this cash is
still kept with the security company and the managements just wrote me to
come forward to pick up my deposit, that it has over stayed the period of
time I entered that I would come over to claim it back. Or issue a letter
of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I cannot
come over because my illness or they get it confiscated.
 
It is my last wish to see that this cash is invested to any organization
of your choice and distributed each year among the charity
organization,the poor and the motherless baby's home where i come from.
 
I want you as a God fearing person, to also use this cash to fund
churches, orphanages and widows; I took this decision, before i rest in
peace because my time will soon be up.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
safe deposit Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will
prove you as the new beneficiary of my fund.
 
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
 
Waiting for your reply.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Faith Williams

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