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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 Magreth Thomas" <magreththomas02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: magreth_thomas01@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 11:20:34 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO READ THIS MAIL

Greetings in the name of God, Pls let this not sound strange to you for my
only surviving lawyer who would have done this died early this year.i prayed
and got your email id from your countrys chamber of commerce which i have
been with before my huband died and would like you to work with me if it is
God's will, in his infinite mercies.

I am Mrs.Magreth Thomas, I am 51 years old, i am deaf and suffering from a
long time cancer of the breast which also affected my brain,from all
indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious
that, according to my doctors they have advised me that i may not live for
the next two months,this is because the cancer stage has got to it's very
critical stage.

I was brought up from a motherless babies home, was married to my late
husband for twenty years without a child. My husband died in a fatal motor
accident. Before his death we were true Christians. Since his death I
decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited
all the sum of $18.5million dollars with a Security Company.

Presently, this money is still with them and the management just wrote me as
the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long
or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my
behalf since I cannot come over because of my illness otherwise it would be
confiscated.

Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing
treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk and
my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last
wish to see that this money is invested to any organisation of
your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization,the
poor and the motherless babies home where i come from.I want you God
fearing, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows.

I took this decision, before i rest in peace because my time will soon be
up. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Security Company.I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove
you as the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hearing from you soon. Waiting for
your reply.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs Magreth Thomas



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