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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: Kathleen Benz <mroseline01@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Kathleen Benz <benzkathleenn@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 15:03:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Belove Friend


Dear Belove Friend,

I sent you an email a few days ago, and am unsure of its arrival at your
end destination. However, I would like to bring to your awareness of the urgency of my situation. Let me take a moment to write again to let you know the reason I contacted you.

I am a white single mother, 49 year old from france who needs to make my
fortune work to provide for my son and I am looking for investment
opportunities for him oversea specifically to secure his financial
future.

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and was a Systems Analyst
/Programmer. In past years I worked as Business Development Manager for
an EPC company in Ivory Coast owned by my late husband, the company
whose focus is on the upstream Oil & Gas market. The company was
sold after I was diagnosed with a medical condition, a pancreatic cancer and cannot handle the stress and pressure of the job which provoked a
flare-up within my late husband family members since I have few months
to live.

Due to my situation, I need your assist to protect the financial future of
my son and get your planning guide towards making a possible million
dollars ($4.3milion) oversea investment opportunities for him in your
country for safe keep. If you are sure you can help me handle any
investment in your country on behalf of my son, then do not hesitate to
contact us.

Looking forward to reading from you soon.

Thank you and warm regard,

Mrs Kathleen Roseline Benz.

Anti-fraud resources: