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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. Chen Zhao"<embve.dmcop@mppre.gob.ve>
Reply-To: mrschenzhao1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2016 07:09:00 -0800
Subject: Hello,

My name is Mrs. Chen Zhao I am a widow of 58 years Old suffering from long time breast cancer now the doctors said I have a few months to live. I have some funds I inherited from my late husband.Please forgive me because I'm not internet savvy. Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. 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. Before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in China and deposited the sum of $18,000,000.00 Million Dollars ( Eighteen Million Dollars) in a company some years ago, that's all I have left now, having know my condition, I decided to establish communication in asking or need you to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to charities. So that when I die my soul can rest in peace. The funds will be entirely in your hands and management. I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives that is my main concern. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank in Asia.

30% of this money will be for your time and effort and 70% goes to charity like I have stated.

Please kindly get back to me if you will assist me or not in carrying out the good work of God.

Thanks as I wait your urgent response...

Regards,
Mrs. Chen Zhao
mrschenzhao1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: