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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.Elisabeth Hoffmann" <aliamansoori001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: elisabethhoff@bethinfo.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:11:12 -0800
Subject: Dear Sir / Madam

Dear Sir / Madam


I am wishing you a very prosperous new year and I believe this message
meets you in good health, I know this letter will come to you as a surprise
and you are probably wondering how I got your email address. Please don't
worry so much, I found your email address on the world yellow page
directory and after prayerful and deep consideration I was inspired to
write you this mail, as my only desire is to find a person of integrity and
the right capacity who can diligently handle this project. so I crave your
indulgence to take your time and read it carefully as I write this message
from my sickbed. My name is Ms. Elisabeth Hoffmann B, I am a 69-year-old
Swiss-American widow, my ancestors are from Switzerland, but I was born and
grew up in the USA, I am a very religious Christian. I was struggling with
cancer, which is in a very critical phase now, and the medical experts
informed me that I only had a few months to live, which was the most
painful and difficult time of my life.

I have some money that I inherited from my late husband, the $7,8 million
deposited on my behalf. Unfortunately, my only surviving brother who should
have been my next of kin recently dies as a result of complications arising
from being afflicted by the coronavirus (COVID 19). That's why I was left
with no option but to take my chance and reach out to you. I need you to
use this money to start up a charity organization on my behalf. I don't
want to donate this money to already established charity organizations
because most of them have proven to enrich themselves instead of doing the
actual charity for which they receive donations.

I want to entrust this money to you, so you can use it for charity work
under the supervision of my lawyer, I am not legally permitted to appoint
my lawyer as a new beneficiary due to confidentiality and restraining laws
on the transfer of inheritance and change of fund ownership to a private
attorney. That's why I need your help in this matter. I want to assure you
that this is not stolen money, it's clean money and free of any kind of
illegality, there is no risk or danger in the process. There will be a
proper transfer of ownership that will be handled by my lawyer. You take 25
percent of this money for your personal use then you use 75 percent for the
charity foundation.

The times are very dire, so I encourage you to observe all the WHO and your
country-specific guidelines regarding social distancing, washing and
sanitizing of hands, and avoid indiscriminate touching of the face. This
will ensure that we all stay safe and out of trouble during this pandemic.
On my own part, here in the hospital, I am also observing and taking all
necessary precautions to stay safe as I trust God to make a full recovery
from this cancer that has ravaged my body.

Your quick response is much appreciated so that I can give you the more
detailed information.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs.Elisabeth Hoffmann Barbara

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