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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. Anna Hartzell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lovetomankind@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 08:23:59 -0000
Subject: Re: Greetings To You

My name is Anna Hartzell, a 65 years old German woman, 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.
 
My coming in contact with you is solely by the divine will and no doubt about it. Please like i told you earlier I'm a missionary woman from Germany but residing in Ghana for the missionary works.
 
My husband was an Engineer with an oil company in Ghana, In fact it is too sad to let you know that i lost my dear husband and two kids in a tragic motor accident, and since then i have been battling with this deadly breast cancer disease which most specialist doctors have confirmed that i may not survive no matter what. All i want to do now is to present you as my family next of kin to receive the $5.5 million which me and my husband deposited in a security company. I want you to receive this money and use it to help the less privileges, widows and orphans.
 
Kindly furnish me your full name and your address also your contact number, so that I will prepare all relevant documents with the assistance of our family lawyer to effect the release of the fund to you.
Remain blessed.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Anna Hartzell

Anti-fraud resources: