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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: "Mrs.Angela Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsangelawilliams7@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2015 12:55:20 -0500
Subject: A Recommendation From A Friend

Dearest,
 
It is with tears and pains that I am writing this mail from my sick
bed in the hospital in Accra Ghana . My name is Mrs.Angela Williams, a
widow to late Mr. Mohammed Williams, former owner of PETROLEUM
AND GAS LOGISTICS LTD in Benin Republic . I am 60 years old,
suffering from cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is
deteriorating and it's obvious that I won't live more than 3 months
according to my doctors. The tumors have deteriorated into the
critical stage. I don't want you to pity me, but I need your trust. My
late husband died in December 2005 in a plane crash in Benin .
During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My
late husband was wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his
business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live
long, so I have now made up my mind to spread my wealth to charity &
mercy works in Africa, Asia, America and Europe . Am sorry if you are
embarrassed by my mail. I found your e-mail address online by chance
over a month ago. I prayed & prayed for God to reveal to me if you
could be relied upon to see to & administer to my last will. The signs
i experienced convinced me, and i have decided to contact you. But if
for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and
please accept my apology.
 
If you are willing to help me, kindly send me your full name, address,
telephone number, age,Email address and a copy of your passport for
proper identification.
 
My late husband was an Oil tycoon. He has mineral rights all over
Africa . He left the sum of US$8, 000, 000, 00 Dollars only, which he
deposit with a bank in Ghana . I need your help to take-in, &
distribute this funds to charity works & needy homes as i stated above
so that when I die my soul will rest in peace knowing the money served
a purpose rather than being expropriated by the government(corrupt
politicians) at my death because i don't have children that will
inherit,& positively utilize money instead.
The funds& distribution will be entirely at your discretion and control,
I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives with my
generosity (this is my main concern)This is on the condition that you
will take only 20% of the fund for yourself, 20% for any expenses, while
you will distribute the remaining 60% to charity organizations in your
community. In God's name i beseech you to get back to me soon. Here is my
private email; mrsangelawilliams2@gmail.com
 
Thanks & God bless you.
Mrs.Angela Williams.
 

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