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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: sarah williams <sw28177@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:24:46 +0000
Subject: From Sarah Williams

Dearly Beloved,

I am Mrs Sarah Williams, a widow to late Mr. Francis Adel . I am 54
years old. I am suffering from a long Brain Cancer.

From all indications, my conditions are really deteriorating and it is
quite obvious that i may not live more long according to my doctors,
this is because the cancer has classed as terminal very bad stage. My
late husband died four years ago, and during the period of our
marriage, we could not produce any child.

The doctors have advised me that I may only live for few months due to
my present predicament. So, I now decided to divide the part of this
wealth to contribute to the development of the God work to your
country. I am willing to donate some huge amount sum of us$2,200.00
(Two million Two Hundred Thousand United States dollars) I want you
to use the fund to support the less privileged in your community, I
choose you to fulfil this dreams to comes true and the fund will
transfer to you in your country. If you are wiling to handle this
project kindly get back to me so that I will tell you more details.

When i hear from you, I will forward to you all the information you
will use to get this fund transferred to your country. I honestly pray
that this money when transferred to your country and it will be used
for the said purpose.

I await your urgent reply.
Your sister,
Mrs Sarah Williams.

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