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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: "Pamela Griffin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pamelagriffinw@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2019 15:41:25 -0000
Subject: Re:Very Urgent...........

Good Day My Dearest,
I am Mrs Pamela,married to late Mr. Griffin Wells, who was a wealthy business man in this country. Before sudden death we were devoted Christians when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $ 8.5m in one of the firm here in the country .
I am very sick from kidney cancer disease and I decided to donate this fund to a honest individual who will use this fund for god's works such as orphans, widows and building of churches to fulfill the vow I and my late husband made to God. I have chosen So after my deep thought because I do not have any child to inherit fund and I do not want to donate this fund to unbelievers because I do not want our hard earned money to be used in an ungodly ways.

As soon as I read from you I will give you more details on how to achieve this goal and get this fund transferred your bank account.
I need your urgent reply as I do not know what tomorrow will result.
your sister in the lord,
Mrs Pamela Griffin.
*************
Buenos días, mi más querido,
Soy la señora Pamela, casada con el difunto señor Griffin Wells, que era un rico hombre de negocios en este país. Antes de la muerte súbita nos convertimos en devotos cristianos cuando mi difunto esposo estaba vivo y depositó la suma de $ 8.5 millones en una de las empresas aquí en el país.
Estoy muy enfermo de la enfermedad del cáncer de riñón y decidí donar este fondo a una persona honesta que usará este fondo para obras de Dios como huérfanos, viudas y la construcción de iglesias para cumplir el voto que hice con Dios y mi difunto esposo. He elegido So después de mi pensamiento profundo porque no tengo ningún hijo para heredar fondos y no quiero donar este fondo a los incrédulos porque no quiero que nuestro dinero duramente ganado sea utilizado de una manera impía.

En cuanto le lea, le daré más detalles sobre cómo lograr este objetivo y cómo transferir este fondo a su cuenta bancaria.
Necesito su respuesta urgente ya que no sé qué resultará mañana.
tu hermana en el señor,
Sra. Pamela Griffin.

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