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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "mrslinda johnson" <mrslindajohnson@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: merittrustbankplc@excite.com
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 13:46:29 +0100
Subject: donate to the needies.

Hello,

My name is Mrs.Linda Johnson a widow and a dying woman who
have decided to donate what I have to you/ church. I am 59
years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago,
immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me
everything he worked for.I have been touched by my spirit
to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to
the you for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives
to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly. Please pray, that
the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgiveb
me and I believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be
going in for an operation in less than one hour.

I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $1,500,000 (One million five
hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord,
and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for
the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any
telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives are
around me and my health status. I have adjusted my WILL and my
lawyer is aware I have changed my will you and he will arrange
the transfer of the funds from my account to you. I wish you all
the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, andplease
use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.
Contact the bank at merittrustbankplc@excite.com with my will
and the account details as follows:
Account name/ Mr Dennis Johnson
Next of kin: Mrs Linda Johnson
Account number: MTB20134243241.

I am very sure that the bank will listen to you and have the fund
transfered to your bank account for my detail instructions. Contact
them and tell them thatI have WILLED ($1,500, 000.00) to you by
quoting my personal reference number;gdmchambers/WILL/9834520012/d06
and the lawyer at galadimamalick@yahoo.co.in
I have also notified them that I am WILLING that amount to you for a
specific and good work. I know I do not know you but I have been directed
to do this.

Thanks and God bless.NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in
this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that
will jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will becontacting with you by
email as I don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are
always around me.


Regards,
Mrs.Linda Johnson.




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