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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 Patrica Patti" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patricapatti1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2018 21:15:47 -0700
Subject: Greetings

Hello, Special Greetings to you and your household. I am writing this message to you with tears on my eyes due to my current state of health, I just have to follow my heart now.
I am Mrs. Patrica Patti, 62 years old from North Carolina USA and a widow suffering from cancer. I and my late husband have €7,500,000 Million Euros which I and my late husband deposited in a BANK in Europe as a life time investment funds.

Considering my health condition now, I want to DONATE this funds to you, I want you to assist me and my late husband in distributing this funds to Charity Organization, support the suffering Widows and Homeless People in your Country.
Or Invest this funds in a good business in your country. If you can assist me with this work, i wait your reply to enable me provide you more detail.

Note, i will offer you 30% of this funds for your personal use, why you will distributing the remaining 70% to Charity Organization, support the suffering Widows and Homeless People in your Country. Thanks for your time and concern, i wait your reply now to enable me provide you more detail.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Patrica Patti
North Carolina USA

Anti-fraud resources: