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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. Ruth Alexander" <tw123@consultant.com>
Reply-To: rruth266@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:32:33 +0200
Subject: Hello!




Hello Dear,

With Due Respect, My name is Ruth Alexander. I was married to Late Dr.
Joseph Alexander, We were married for 20years with only a child by name
David Joseph. My late husband died of Cardiac Arrest. And Recently, My
Doctor told me that I may not live longer than required due to my health
condition. and i have to undergo a (Cancer of the lung Surgery)

I inherited a total sum of $19.2M. (Nineteen million, two hundred thousand
united state dollars) from my late husband, this money is deposited with
an European Finance Bank, and this deposit was made under a secret Fixed
Deposit Account. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund
to any God fearing man or woman that will utilize this fund the way I am
going to instruct. I want somebody that will use this fund according to
the desire of me and my late husband to take care of my only son that is
just 16 years old and also to help the less privileged people, orphanages,
widows and propagating the word of God.

I took this decision because I want somebody that will inherit this fund
take care of my only child tomorrow when am no more, and according to my
history I am an orphan and i was being told that i was raised by orphanage
home. This is why I am taking this decision to hand over this fund to you
in good faith and measure.

I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I want you to
always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming Cancer
Surgery.

hoping to read from you soonest. please email me at My Private Email
address: ( rruth266@gmail.com )

God bless you as i await your response,

Mrs Ruth.

Anti-fraud resources: