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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: john thamos <johnnthamos202@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sarahjohn6262@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2021 11:19:11 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME OUT


*Dear Sir/Madam,I am Mrs. Sarah Johnson from South Africa, presently
staying in Germany. I am married to Mr. Johnson Williams who worked with
the Nigeria embassy in Loma-Togo for Ten years before he died in the year
2004.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 Christian.Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a
child outside my matrimonial home, which the Bible is against. When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of $5.5Million (Five Million Five
hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) with one Security Company in Europe.
Presently, this money is still with the Security Company. Recently, my
Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to
cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having
known my condition I decided to keep this fund in Europe. I want an
organization or an individual that will use this fund for orphanages,
widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God
is maintained. The Bible made us 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's relatives are not Christians and I
don't want my husband’s efforts to be used by unbelievers.I don’t want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am
taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am
going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS
14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I don't
need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence
the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them
to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon
as I receive your reply I shall inform the security company in Europe that
you are the beneficiary of the said consignment you will need to go and
claim this fund in Europe. I will also issue you an authority letter that
will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the
organization 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. Any delay in your reply will give me room
in sourcing another person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you
will act accordingly as I stated herein. And Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ.Mrs. Sarah Johnson. *

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