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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. Olivia Austin" <austin.olivia@netzero.com>
Reply-To: mam.austinolivia@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2020 07:34:21 -0800
Subject: GREETINGS TO YOU MY BELOVED

GREETINGS TO YOU MY BELOVED, I HOPE YOU'RE IN GOOD HEALTH. I AM WRITING TO YOU WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND DESIRE TO HELP THE POOR AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED. MY NAME IS MRS. OLIVIA AUSTIN, I AM A 69 YEARS OLD WOMAN, I WAS MARRIED TO LATE DOC. GARY YOUNG AUSTIN. MY LATE HUSBAND IS FROM ENGLAND AND WORKED WITH SHELL OIL COMPANY BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY 9 YEARS AGO. I AM A LEVEL 3 CANCER OF THE LUNGS PATIENT, I RESIDE IN HOSPITAL TO STAY ALIVE. DUE TO MY HEALTH CONDITION, MY MEDICAL REPORT TELLS THAT I HAVE A FEW TIME TO LIVE. MY LATE HUSBAND WILLED ALL HIS FUNDS TO ME, TEN MILLION BRITISH POUND STERLING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON. NOW I HAVE A SHORT TIME TO LIVE AS MY CANCER HAS GOTTEN TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL AS MEDICAL REPORTS. I AM SEEKING YOUR HELP TO USE MY FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A CHARITY FOUNDATION PROJECT FOR THE POOR MOTHERLESS BABIES, WIDOWS, ORPHANAGE, CANCER PATIENTS AND ALL THE POOR AND LESS PRIVILEGED. I HAVE DECIDE TO GIVE OUT ALL MY FUNDS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CHARITY FOUNDATION. I NEED YOUR TRUST

GOD BLESS YOU GREATLY,
SHALOM.

Anti-fraud resources: