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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: lillianmcquillen@aol.de
Reply-To: edwinclarkeesq@inbox.com
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:50:09 +0200
Subject: 11.10.2013


Mrs Lillian Mcquillen Email:lillianmcquillen@aol.de Hello Dear, My name is=
Lillian Mcquillen,i am a dying woman who has decided to donate what i have=
to you. I am 59 years old,was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago immedi=
ately after the death of my husband,who has left me everything he worked fo=
r. I have been touched by God to donate from what i have inherited from my =
late husband to you for the good work of the Lord,rather than to allow my r=
elatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly. I decided to WILL/d=
onate the sum of $3,000,000(Three million dollars)to enable you help the mo=
therless,less priviledged and widows. I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer=
is aware that i have done so,you and my lawyer shall arrange the transfer =
of the funds from my account to yours. I wish you all the best and may the =
good Lord bless you abundantly,please use the funds well and always extend =
the good work to others. Contact my lawyer (Barrister.Edwin Clarke) with th=
is email:edwinclarkeesq@inbox.com and tell him that i have donated $3,000,0=
00 to you.i have also notified him. Thanks and Godbless you. Regards, Mrs.L=
illian Mcquillen N.B:I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this =
matter until the task is accomplished as i do not want anything to jeopardi=
ze my last wish. Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any=
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may cont=
ain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, =
disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recip=
ient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of t=
he original message. Thank you.

Anti-fraud resources: