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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. Racheal Lambert" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:21:02 +0900
Subject: Merry Xmas From Mrs. Racheal Lambert

Beloved,

I am Mrs. Racheal Lambert, 72 years old woman, A Christian widow who is dying of oesophageal cancers. Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the period of 2 Months due to cancer problem.

Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have never met before and I know this means of communication may not be morally right to you as a person but I also have had a great thought about it and I have come to this conclusion which I am about to share with you. I cannot talk on the telephone, so I did a search for your email address, which I found on the international business directorate email data search.

I did not send you this mail in error; and know that this offer is real.

Though some people believe that any proposal coming through the internet is scam because of the information they have been feed with. In that respect most individuals go as far as advertising the proposal on the internet as part of scam mails, their by betraying my confidence.

I am touched and convinced by God to donate entire sum of USD$14.5 Million Inherited from my late husband to you to you for the good work of Charity.

My husband was assassinated with my only child in Guinea Bissau in 2009 during one of his official visits.

I will present you to our bank as the beneficiary of the funds with the original deposit papers that I am going to give you, including other vital documents that will be validated to your name, the funds will be released to you upon presentation of these documents.

I will appreciate your utmost honest in this subject matter.

Faithfully,
Mrs. Mrs. Racheal Lambert.



Anti-fraud resources: