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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.AMINA FATOU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aminafatou993@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:39:52 +0100
Subject: RE : DONATION.

CALVARY GREETINGS TO YOU TODAY.
 
DONATION,
 
MY NAME IS MRS.AMINA FATOU FROM UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON). I LIVED IN
SYRIA FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL HERE IN LONDON AS A RESULT OF BREAST CANCER. MY PURPOSE OF
WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE I WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO OFFER YOU THE
MONEY THAT I HAVE IN MY PRIVATE ACCOUNT IN MALAYSIA NOW THAT IS CLEAR
THAT AM APPROACHING THE LAST DAYS OF MY LIFE. I'M 86 YEARS OLD AND MAY
NOT EVEN NEED THE MONEY AGAIN FOR ANY THING.I'M OFFERING YOU THE SUM
OF §4.5 MILLION US DOLLARS AS A DONATION FOR THE WORK OF GOD AND
CHARITY.MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ALREADY
MAY HE GIVE YOU WISDOM TO CONTINUE IT. WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL
DIRECT YOU ON HOW TO RECEIVE THE MONEY.
 
PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL ACCEPT MY SOUL EVEN IF I DIE TODAY.
 
BLESS YOU,
 
MRS.AMINA FATOU

Anti-fraud resources: