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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. Elizabeth Charles" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charleselizabeth03@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2015 17:27:28 -0700
Subject: inquiry

Greetings,
 
I know that this letter may be a very big Surprise to you; I am giving you my trust and wish you will give me back the trust I have given you. I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before i will die.
 
I am Mrs. ELIZABETH CHARLES from Cote d'Ivoire,59 years Old,Suffering from a long time cancer of the breast. From all indication my Condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond next month,this is because the Cancer stage has reached a critical stage.
 
I was brought up in a Motherless Baby's' home, and was married to my late husband for Twenty years and we have only one Child, his name is Williams. My husband and I are true Christians,but quite unfortunately,He died during the presidential election in our country.
 
Since i was a born again christian,i decided not to re-marry, My husband deposited the sum of $5.2million Dollars here in Cote d'Ivoire Presently, this money is still with The Bank. I want you to Use this money to take care of my only son and also invest the money into a very LUCRATIVE VENTURE  of your choice that will be giving out proceeds which will be distributed each year among charity organizations like,the
Poor, Orphanage Homes and Widows around.
 
I must let you know that this was a very hard decision to take, But i had to take the bold step towards this issue because i have no further option.
 
I hope you see Will help My last wishes Come true.
 
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Elizabeth Charles

Anti-fraud resources: