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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: Susan Helms <helen.richardson70@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: helmssusan19@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2020 10:14:01 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Sir

I’M LIEUTENANT GENERAL Susan Helms. I am a UNITED
STATE ARMY GENERAL. From United State of America. Am supportive and caring, looking forward to get a nice friend.

I read your profile on Google and pick interest on you. I will like to establish mutual friendship with you by introducing this deal to you.
My dear friend, i want you to know that we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs. During one of our rescue mission

we came across a safe box that contain huge amount of money that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they use it in buying weapons and ammunition's, and it was agreed by all parties in present that the money will be shared among us. Out of the total fund my share was $5,500,000 (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand united states Dollars). I am seeking your assistance to evacuate my share of the money, which is $5,500,000 out of here to you, in as much as you can assure me that my own share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here. I have made solid arrangements with a UNITED NATION DIPLOMAT who promised to deliver the fund to any of my choosing destination.

I shall be compensating you with 40% of the total fund on final conclusion of this project, while the rest balance shall be my investment capital in your country or elsewhere. One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter to a third party, if you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this e-mail to avoid any leakage of this information and it will be dangerous to me based on my position here. This is not stolen money, and there are no dangers involved. Contact me on my private email address if you can receive this funds,

Thanks and regards.
Gen.Susan Helms

Anti-fraud resources: