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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: "Mrs. M Howell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmaryhowell11@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 10:56:55 +0500
Subject: Hello Dear,

Hello Dear,
 
I sent you this email about A week ago but I got no response from you. This letter might surprise you because we hardly know each other. My late husband worked with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as ,Head of Power Products/Systems ABB Nigeria here in Nigeria for many year's, he died by brain tumor . Please don't ignore it this time as I am writing this it to you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart. I am dying widow diagnosed with cancer of lungs. This disease has eaten me up totally and my doctors told me that I will not survive it for any reason, and that I have a very short period to live. Based on this predicament I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the development of charity.
 
I have a substantial sum of about $11.2 M that I would like you to help me distribute to the needy and orphans in society and to build orphanage homes. Please let us join hands and help orphans and needy in our society with love. Please kindly reply me at: mrsmaryhowell@aol.com with below information as to enable authorized you to the bank where the money in been deposited now in Nigerian.
 
1 Your full name
2 Contact address
3 Telephone numbers
4 Your age
5 Your occupation
6 Means of ID
 
Regards,
Mrs. M Howell.

Anti-fraud resources: