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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. Susan Caldwell" <b5342s@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsscaldwell@yahoo.ca>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 14:32:16 +0000
Subject: HELLO DEAR.



Good Day.

Greetings in the name of God. I am Mrs. Susan Caldwell, widow to late Mr. Robert Caldwell, I am 61years old, I am a new Christian convert suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all Indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live for more than two months according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage.
My Late husband and I are true Christians, but quite unfortunately, He Ran into the hands of Rebels and were killed during the crisis here in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire where we live all our live, And during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child due to Fibroid Disease that affected my Womb.

My late husband was Very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than two months, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the development of church, charity/under privileged in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. I found your e-mail address in the web Directory and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find this mail Offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology.

Before my late husband died he was a major Gold and Cocoa Dealer, in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire and he Deposited the sum of USD$5.2million in a Bank in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire some years ago, that is all I have left now, I need you to collect this fund and distribute it yourself to church, charity/less Privileged. I came to understand that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity.

The funds will be entirely in your trusted hands and management. I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch many lives which is my main concern, 20% of this money will be for your time and effort, While 80% goes to charity. May the grace of the Lord Jesus the love of God and the sweet fellowship of God be with you and your family.

I await your urgent reply.
Yours in Christ
Mrs. Susan Caldwell.

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