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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: "Carla Whittaker" <sumcen@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: carla951@angelic.com
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 04:31:52 -0400
Subject: Re: Hi Dear, It's Carla, Write Me

Dear Beloveth,

I am Mrs Carla Whittaker from Greece, presently staying in Ghana. I am married to Mr. Mark Whittaker who worked with Angolan embassy in Lome-Togo for Fifteen years before he died in the year 2009. We were married for twelve years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christian.

Since his death I decided not to remarry, due to my condition of health. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $6.8 Million (Six Million Eight hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with one security company in Ghana. Presently, this money is still with the Security Company. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided not to keep this fund here in Ghana. Reasons I will clarify you in my next mail to you.

I want an organization or an individual that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husbands efforts to be used by unbelievers.

I will explain more in my next mail to you, write me back.

Remain blessed always.

Carla Whittaker.

Anti-fraud resources: