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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: "Margaret Bennett" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <margaretbennett411@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2016 18:20:18 +0800
Subject: God bless you as you read my message

I am writing to you in a good faith.

My dear one, i contacted you because of a favor i want from you.
i am a dying widow and lying in the hospital with a cancer of the breast.
My late husband name was Mr.Josua Bennett, mine is Mrs. Margaret Bennett and we both are from United Kingdom.
i was working as a missionary in some parts of Asian country before i developed this sickness of mine and was taken back to my country for treatment,
the doctor diagnosed me and said i have been affected much with the cancer and may not live up to 2 months.
Why i sent you this message is because i want an assistant from you to continue my work as a missionary in helping the poor and less privileged ones with my fund which i was planning to use and now i found myself on sick bed and my health condition has denied me from doing it.
If you have a good heart as i thought you are, please reply my message with the answer to these questions.
1)i want to donate my money to you with all my heart, will you use it to help the poor and less privileged and also achieve my heart desire?
2)what can you do for the poor people who are hungry, dying and have no home in this world with my money if i donate it to you?

God bless you very much for your time in reading and understanding my message.
Mrs. Margaret Bennett.

Anti-fraud resources: