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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: "Ruth Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ruthsmith2201@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2018 15:07:47 -0700
Subject: HELP ME

Hello:
 
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
I am Mrs. Ruth Smith, A widow to Late Mr. John Smith, I am 73years
old, and I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from long time
cancer of the ear. From all indications my condition is really
deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live long according
to my doctors.
 
This is because my cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My
late husband was killed during the U.S raid, against terrorism in
Afghanistan when he traveled to Afghanistan to monitor a Hospital/a
Humanitarian Found at (HHF) he was setting up for the benefit of the
Afghan masses as of then; whose majority and 99 percent of them are
Muslims/ Islamic scholars and loyalists. During the period of our
marriage we couldn’t produce any child.. My late husband was very
wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his businesses and
wealth, and when I noticed that my condition is not improving rather
it gets worsen by the day I decided to divide part of this wealth, to
contribute to Charity and the development of the churches in Africa,
America, Asia and Europe. I selected you after visiting the internet
and I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the fund to you for
charity, the less privileged, churches, orphanages and widows,
Propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is
maintained.
 
I took this decision upon myself because I don't have any child that
will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians
and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by
unbelievers. Because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition
without Christ is vanity upon vanity.
 
Please I want you to note that this fund was deposited in a BANK for
security purpose. And upon my instruction, my late husband’s lawyer
will file application to the BANK for the release of the consignment
to you. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family. Await
Your Urgent Reply via this e-mail address:( ruthsmith2201@gmail.com  )
any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church,
another person or Christian individual for this same purpose.
 
Yours in Christ
Ruth Smith
Love & Prayers
Email: ruthsmith2201@gmail.com

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