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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 Michael <mrsruthmichael225@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Ruth Michael <mrsruthmichael225@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:58:12 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From Mrs Ruth Michael

My dearest in the Lord,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was after going through your profile. I am moved to contact you with this important issue with faith and confidence that you will be of good assistant to this work of God. Firstly let me introduce myself to you. I'm Mrs. Ruth Michael from Kuwait. I was married to you, Peter Michael. Who worked with the Kuwaiti embassy in Côte d'Ivoire for 15 years before dying in 2010?

We were married for 13 years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted only four days. Before we died, we were both strong believers. Since his death I have decided not to remarry or have a child out of my marriage home that the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive, he deposited the $ 10.5 Million amount in a bank here in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital for custody. Currently, my doctor has confirmed that I have serious illness that is cancer problem.

What disturbs me most is my stroke. Haven has met my condition. I have decided to donate this fund to a church or individual who will use this money in the manner I am going to instruct here. I want a church that will use this fund for orphanages, helping the widows, propagating the word of God And to Endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us understand that the hand that gives is blessed, I made that decision because I have no son who will inherit this money and my husband's relatives are not Christians and I do not want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers.

I do not want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. That is why I am making this decision. I'm not afraid of death so I know where I'm going. I know that I will be in the Lord's bosom. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that you will fight my case and I will keep my peace, As soon as I receive your reply, I will give you the Security Company contact here in Abidjan. I want you and the church to always pray for me, because you are my pastor. My happiness is that I have lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever wants to serve the Lord must serve Him in spirit and truth.

Please be always pious throughout your life. Any delay in your response will give me room in sourcing another church or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act according to what I said here.

Waiting to receive your reply.

Remain blessed in the Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Ms. Ruth Michael.

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