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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Elizabeth Happer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elizabethhapper467@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 01:29:43 -0700
Subject: May I Trust You?

I bid thee a good day,

My name is Elizabeth Happer, citizen of the Great Britain and I was married to the late Engr. Charles J. Happer, who was a contractor with Royal Dutch Shell plc before his demise on September 24th, year 2010. We were married for thirteen years without a child. When Charles left a substantial amount of money worth £8,500, 000.00 (eight million, five hundred thousand British pounds) with a financial institution here in the United Kingdom, which I inherited after his death. For two years and couple of weeks I struggle with cancer and fibroid problems.

Recently, my doctor said that I have less than three months to survive because my health condition is critically deteriorating and having known my condition I have decided to bequeath the fund to individual whom will use the money as I am going to instruct. I will need this person to use the money in all sincerity to setup a benevolent foundation with my name (Elizabeth Happer). I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit the money and my husband relatives are into radical organization and I do not wish for a situation where the money will be used in a blasphemous manner, for this reason I need you.

As soon as I receive your reply, indicating your interest to help me realize my wish, I will give you further instructions on what to do and how to go about actualizing the project.

While replying to this letter, please include your full name and full address. Until I read from you, my wish rest squarely on your shoulders.
Remain blessed,
Elizabeth.

Anti-fraud resources: