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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: "Mrs. Lilly Patrick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrslillypatrick@careceo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 06:42:04 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

--
Dear Beloved,

My name is Lilly Patrick, I am 65 years old U.S woman, I am suffering from a long time cancer of the breast, I am a missionary and I have decided to Willingly Donate the sum of $5.5 Million (Five Million, Five hundred thousand Dollars) to charity and individual through you for the good work of the lord, and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows. Can you help me to receive the money? Love and blessings

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Lilly Patrick

Anti-fraud resources: