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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: Grace thomas <julietjohnson656@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gracethomas279@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2019 19:58:20 +0000
Subject: From Mrs Grace Thomas

From Mrs Grace Thomas
Treichville Rue de Cocody
Abidjan: Ivory Coast.

I am Mrs. Grace Thomas widow suffering from long time illness
(Cancer), there is funds I inherited from my late loving husband Mr.
Benson Thomas, the sum of (US$7.8 Million) which he deposited in bank
before his death, I need a honest and Faithful person that can use
these funds for charity work.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this money and I don't want a situation where this money will be used
in an ungodly way. That is why I am taking this decision, and my
doctor has confirmed to me that I have less than three weeks to live,
having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity
or individual that will utilize this money to assist the poor and the
needy in accordance to my instructions.

I want an organization that will use this fund for orphanages, schools
and churches or mosques, widows. Please if you would be able to use
these funds for the charity work kindly reply me. As soon as I have
received your response, I will give you further directives on how you
are to go about the claims of the said funds.

Yours Faithfully.
Mrs. Grace Thomas.

Anti-fraud resources: