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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: "Donovan" <debodvalove@qmail.com>
Reply-To: debodonovalove@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2017 08:58:12 +0100
Subject: THANK YOU SO MUCH




--
My dear friend.

I know that this letter might come to you as a surprise, especially since
we have never met or discuss before, basically the message might sound
strange but it is factual in reality if only you care to listen to me.

The truth is that I should have notified you first through a more
confidential means, (even if it's at least to respect your integrity)
please accept my humble apologies if I Had caught you unawares, I frankly
do not mean any harm in passing my message. For security reason and also
due to what is happening all over the internet now are days, the details
of my personality and that of my late husband will be directed to you via
my private email as soon as I receive your response to my request below.

I am woman undergoing medical treatment at moment. I am married to a
lovely and gentle man who worked with Chinese embassy in Maylaysia for
nine years before he died in 2014. We were married for eleven years
without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four
days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. I decided not
to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late
husband was alive he deposited Million/thousand U.S. Dollars) in a
Finance/Bank. Presently, this money is still with the Finance/Bank in
EUROPE.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Five to
Eight months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my
stroke. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church
or better still a Christian/individual that will utilize this money the
way I am going to instruct here in. I want you to use this funds help the
widows, orphanage. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the
hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that
will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians Nor
Muslims, and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by
unbelievers. I don't want situation where this money will be used in an
ungodly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

Please, for now i don't need any telephone communication in this regard
because of my health, and because of the presence of my husband's
relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this
development. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact
of the Finance/Bank in EUROPE. I shall also send a letter of authority to
the Bank that will empower you as the original- beneficiary of this fund.
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.

However, if you do not have confidence in this message, please kindly
delete it and accept my sincere apology for contacting you in this manner.
And any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church or
Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will
act accordingly as I stated herein.

Hope to hear from you.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.

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