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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: "Engr. Peterson Elder" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anthonykalvel@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 23:56:49 -0800
Subject: Get back to me immediately!!

My Dear Cheri Roever, My name is Engr. Peterson Elder, a man from Deutschland; I have been working with Agip Company Ltd. London, UK for over 27yrs now. I am the chief engineer of the company; I am a dying man who has decided to donate what I have to Church and the motherless homes. I am 61 years of age, and I was diagnosed of cancer 2years back immediately after the death of my lovely wife, whom I married while working with the aforementioned company. She died without given me a child and my doctor told me that I will not last longer than 3 Months because of my ill health hence I decided to Will my life earned sum of US$4.5 Million Dollars to you for the good work of humanity and also to help the less motherless, the less privilege, and also the widow. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly. Please use the funds accordingly and always extend the good work to others. I request you send me the following information as written below so I can forward to my personal account officer to let him know I have willed the estate to you; and I will also forward to you his contact to assist you on my behalf achieve the transfer of this fund without much difficulties and delay as soon as I hear from you. 1.Your full name 2.Your contact address 3.Telephone number 4.Your age 5.Your occupation Note: my account officer will assist for the claim of this sum $4.5 million United States Dollars to you irrespective we don’t know each other before but have been directed to do so by the almighty. I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I do not want anything to jeopardize my last wish. Kindly contact me immediately. Thanks and God bless, Engr. Peterson Elder

Anti-fraud resources: