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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: "Mrs. Agatha Abubakar" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agathabu73@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 08:25:31 -0800
Subject: I WOULD LOVE TO BEQUEATH THIS FUNDS TO YOU IF YOU CAN USE FUNDS AS INSTRUCTED.

Dearest Friend,

My Name is Mrs. Agatha Abubakar, I was married to Late Dr.Ali Abubakar who was an oil merchant, We were married for eighteen years with one son whom also past away after the death of his father on an airplane crash . Before the painful exit of my husband, we deposited the sum of (Ten Million British Pounds) in the bank and this money is still with the Bank.

In 2012 I started suffering cancer, fibroid problems and hearing impairments recently, because of my health condition i decided to donate this money to a single reliable person, who will use the Fund to build orphanage home and help the poor.

I am taking this decision because I do not have anybody who will inherit this money, since my husband relatives have been very hostile and unkind to me since after the death of my husband . I do not have any trace to any of my family relatives because my parents eloped to United Kingdom due to war and never mentioned home till they all past away. I don't know how long i have on this earth and if i do not will this money to anyone, the Bank will take it, which is the reason i want to bequeath it to you so that you can use it to help the poor in your country.

for legitimacy, I will Also give you a letter of authority (power of attorney) which will establish you to be my appointed beneficiary to this money. If you delay in replying this mail, I will look for another individual who will accept to use this money to help the poor.

Remain blessed
Mrs. Agatha Abubakar
agathabu72@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: