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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. Abigail Johnson" <student@springfield.int >
Reply-To: jabigail637@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:49:42 +0100
Subject: Greetings Beloved

Greetings Beloved

Thanks for your patience for reading to the end

My name is Abigail Johnson a widow from the United States Married to late Mr. Paul Johnson; I am in a hospital at the moment undergoing treatment for Esophagus Cancer in Switzerland. I was diagnosed with cancer in late 2018, months after my husband’s death of heart attack at a time I needed him most, we are childless not by choice but as a result of infertility. My husband was a civil engineer and philanthropist who is well valued for his technical skills, generosity and active financial donations to orphans, less privileged and charity organizations.

I recently got tested COVID-19 positive after mild cold, cough and difficult breathing, and my doctors just discovered that the cancer is metastasized and quickly spreading to other parts of my body and it’s not responding well to chemotherapy due to my weak immune system. Please don't pity me, because I lived a good Godly life and I'm aware that cancer with COVID-19 patients have increased risk of unexpected death, and I'm prepared for the worst.

The purpose of this letter is to notify you that my late husband made a fixed bank deposit of €11,500,000.00 (Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Euro) with a bank in Benin Republic, this money was meant for development of nonprofit charity organization and private orphanages, unfortunately, he died before the maturity of the fixed deposit being November 27, 2020. As the surviving spouse to the deceased, the bank manager has formally notified me that the fixed bank deposit is matured and due for payment.

Kindly be informed that I have decided to donate the funds to the less privileged, charity organizations and establish cancer research centers, at least to give hope to the hopeless, that's my last wish. I also regret not being able to personally supervise this humanitarian work, due to my physical health condition, therefore, I seek your consent and acceptance to receive this money including the interest on deposit, and ensure that these projects are fully executed.

I will formally submit a transfer application letter to the bank manager requesting him to process transfer of the total amount €11,500,000.00) to you without delay, upon receipt of your response. I know that this sudden offer will be very challenging and difficult to handle, nevertheless, I will let you keep 10% of the total amount in appreciation of your time and efforts, I made this decision because I don't want to regret forfeiting such an amount to the bank or government.

Pray for God to extend my life by several more weeks or months to see accomplishment of this project.

Yours sincerely,

Abigail Johnson.

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