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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. Carol Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrscarolwilliams@yandex.ru>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2018 06:32:52 -0000
Subject: Attention:Dearest One

Dearest One,

Writing with humanitarian heart ,my name is Mrs. Carol Williams from Canada I am 72 years old, I saw your contact at ministries of commerce and foreign trade departments. I am writing this mail to you with heavy sorrow in my heart, i am a dying woman who have decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ Temples/motherless babies/less privileged/widows/. I was diagnosed for cancer of the blood for about 2 years now. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good work of humanity.

And am contacting you because I don’t have any other option than to tell you as I was touched to open up to you,I will be going in for an operation in few days time. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $8.5 million dollars to you for the good work of God, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment because of my condition and I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my husband relatives (That have squandered the funds I gave them for this purpose before) are around me and my health status also.


I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware. I wish you all the best and may the good God bless you abundantly, and please use the Funds judiciously and always extend the good work to others. As soon you get back to me, I shall give you info on what I need from you then you will contact the barrister and tell him I have WILLED the funds to you by quoting my personal file info’s: N°26375782341 and I have also notified the bank that I am WILLING the funds out for charity purpose, effective and prudent work. I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this by God.

I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my late husband relatives are not good not even good at all because they are the one that responsible for the death of my late husband in other to have all my late husband properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by those that conspired for his death. I grew up as an orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, just to Endeavor that the name of God is maintained... am doing this so that God will forgive my sins and accept my soul because this sickness has suffered me so much.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in London and I will send authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of the money that is if you assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

Also I want you to go to the bank manager one on one to meet them for the claim because I don’t need any delay; if you are ready to claim the fund I need you to go and see with your eyes. Hoping to receive your reply


You’re sincerely
Mrs. Carol Williams

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