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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. Cynthia Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cynthiawillliams@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:20:33 +0200
Subject: May The Peace Of The Lord Be With You

Dear beloved,

I sincerely apologize for not taking your permission before contacting you. It is rather unfortunate that am writing this mail to you in deep tears while lying on a hospital bed due to chronic Cancer of the Breast and Pneumonia waiting for the time to pass unto eternal glory. My ordeal is quite complicated but I will appreciate it if you give a little time to hear me out.I got your email address from a mail Directory in my late husband s private library and decided to mail you for a permission for the help of this fund and i sincerely hope you will understand my plight.

I am Mrs.Cynthia Williams wife to the late Engr Franklin Williams from Singapore who worked with Shell Development Company in London for Twenty-Six years before he died in 2011 after a brief illness that lasted for only eight days. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $15.5 M in a firm here. Following my ill health (chronic Cancer of the Breast and Pneumonia) my doctor told me that i may not live longer than required due to the present health condition.I am looking forward to seeing a GOD fearing and honest fellow who would be a medium through which smiles will be put in the faces of the orphanage children, less privilege, Sexually abused women as well as being used to propagate the Kingdom and Gospel of GOD.

More details will be made known to you upon your response.

GOD bless you,
Mrs. Cynthia Williams

Anti-fraud resources: