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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. RUTH BISHOP" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <b.ruth@superposta.com>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2014 13:32:22 +0100
Subject: RE: PLEASE ASSIST ME

I AM MRS. RUTH BISHOP, A WIDOW TO LATE  WILSON BISHOP.FROM SEATTLE  WASHINGTON,USA.PRESENTLY IN INDIA RECEIVING TREATMENTS, I AM 61  YEARS OLD, I AM A  CHRISTIAN  CONVERT  SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME  CANCER OF THE BREAST,FROM ALL  INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY  DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS  THAT I WON'T LIVE MORE THAN SIX  MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,THIS  IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS  GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE  HUSBAND KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID  AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND  DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE  COULD'NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.
MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND  AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS  BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS  ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR  MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW  DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS  WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE  DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA, AMERICA, ASIA, AND EUROPE. I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE  SUM OF USD 8.6,000.000.00 DOLLARS TO  THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN USA. PLEASE HELP OUT, YOUR HELP WILL SAFE MANY LIFE IN THE WORLD, LET GOD TOUCH YOUR HEART TO HEAR MY CRY.
LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS  MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE USE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY.  MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOURS IN CHRIST.
Mrs. RUTH BISHOP

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