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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: "Antonietta Cullen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <antculln@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2016 20:56:18 -0500
Subject: MY GIFT

Hello beloved,
 
I am Antonietta Cullen,  I am a sick woman who was diagnosed for cancer six years ago. my main reason for contacting you is because I want to entrust a charity project to you, I know this may sound so strange to you and also extremely risky for me to offer such proposal to a total stranger on via email but this is my last resort to get this done. I am looking for a confidant, someone to help fulfill my last wish. Hope to read from you. I will appreciate your selfless act towards the less privilege, I don't mind if you could be of trustful help. I will be waiting to read from you urgently as time is of essence due the limited time I have and my ill health condition.
 
Thanks,
Antonietta Cullen

Anti-fraud resources: