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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: "Lucy Anderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <luceeand5@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2015 14:50:12 -0000
Subject: In good faith.

Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Lucy Anderson a Polish migrant to the United Kingdom and married to Late Engr Brown
Anderson {PhD} who worked with MULTINATIONAL OIL COMPANY EXXON AS A DRILLING
RIG ENGINEER in Saudi Arabia for 19 years before he died on the 20th of
May, 2010. We were married for twenty five years without a child. He died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, he
deposited the sum of 6.1M US Dollars with a bank In the United Kingdom and this
fund is presently with the bank awaiting my disbursement as beneficiary and
next of kin to the funds.

My Doctor told me that I have just eight months due to cancer problem.
Having known my condition, I decided to donate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will
utilize this money In good faith.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money. I kept this deposit secret till date, this is why I am taking this
decision. I am not allowed any telephone communication by doctors. Upon your reply I shall issue a
letter of authorization to the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money.

Await your responds and God bless you.

Mrs. Lucy Anderson

Anti-fraud resources: