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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: charles@bizcr.com
Reply-To: edwinclarkeesq@aim.com
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 22:52:29 +0200
Subject: A must read


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 immediately after the death of my husband,who has left me everything h=
e worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what i have inherit=
ed from my late husband to you for the good work of the Lord,rather than to=
allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly. I decide=
d to WILL/donate my inheritance to enable you help the motherless,less priv=
iledged and widows. I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware that i h=
ave 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 yo=
u abundantly,please use the funds well and always extend the good work to o=
thers. Contact my lawyer (Barrister.Edwin Clarke) with this email:edwinclar=
keesq@aim.com and tell him that i have donated my inheritance to you.i have=
also notified him. Thanks and Godbless you. Regards, Mrs.Lillian Mcquille=
n N.B:I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until t=
he task is accomplished as i do not want anything to jeopardize my last wis=
h. =

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is=
for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential=
and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or d=
istribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please co=
ntact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original me=
ssage. Thank you.

Anti-fraud resources: