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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: "Mrs. Sherry Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjamessmith66@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2020 08:00:56 -0800
Subject: CONTACT YOUR AGENT (REV. JAMES SMITH) IMMEDIATELY.

Dear Friend,
 
 
 
  How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I
hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this
opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished
transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other
best known to you.
 
 
 
But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the
Cheque out of the company to someone else who was capable of
assisting me in this great venture Due to your effort,
sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the course
of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude
to you with the sum of $1,500,000.00 USD. (One Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
 
 
 
My dear friend I will like you to contact the finance house for
the collection of this international certified bank draft. The
name and contact address of the Person with your Cheque is Mr.
James Smith, is as follows.
 
 
 
COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT: REV. JAMES SMITH
Contact Email: revjamessmith66@gmail.com
 
 
 
At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment
projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand.
Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the
finance house on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as
soon as you contact them without delay. Please I will like you to
accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of
my heart.
 
 
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you
soon.
 
 
 
My sincere advice to you as a christian is that you should
endeavor to pay your tithe to a bible believing church when you
get the prize.
 
 
 
Best Regards,
Mrs. Sherry Williams.

Anti-fraud resources: