419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Missrose williams <missrosewilliams543@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 11:46:38 +0100
Subject: RE: CAN I TRUST YOU?I have decided to WILL the sum of
$17,250,000.00USD to you to help the poor.

Good day my beloved in Christ,

Though
this medium internet has been corrupted and abused by many impostors,
but it still remains the safest and the quickest way of easy
communication and based on that, i will like you to take your time and
read this message.

My name is Miss Rose Williams, I am a dying
woman who had decided to donate what I have to a reliable individual who
will act as I will instruct here. I am 63 years old and was diagnosed
for cancer about 2 years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from
what I have inherited from my late father to you for the good work of
God, rather than allow my uncle to use my father’s hard earned funds
ungodly.

I will be undergoing an operation in London, and I pray
that I survive the operation. I have decided to WILL the sum of
$17,250,000.00USD (Seventeen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand
United States Dollars Only) deposited in a secured bank in West Africa,
to you for the good work of the lord, the orphanage, the needy and to
help the motherless.

Presently, I have informed my Doctor, about
my decision in WILLING this fund to a reliable individual, you are to
get back to me immediately if you are interested in carrying out this
task, so that I will instruct you on how to get in contact with my
doctor and my account officer.

Lastly, I know I have never meet
you, but in other to fulfill this which borders me most, i prayed and
choose you and my mind tells me to inform you about this, and I hope
you act sincerely, please get back to me immediately via my private
email address(missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com)with the following information.

NOTE:
I WILL PREFER UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY IN ALL THESE UNTIL THE MONEY GETS
TO YOU, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT BAD PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED THEREBY
JEOPARDIZING MY LAST WISHES.
YOUR NAME:YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS:YOUR COUNTRY:YOUR HOME ADDRESS:YOUR PHONE NO:OCCUPATION:AGE:SEX:

God bless you.
Miss. Rose

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam