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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: James Hagen <mido.sanusi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: carrs.solicitors@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2021 14:41:49 +0100
Subject: You are mentioned in my clients WILL

--
Good Day,

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the Estate of Late Mr. Kenneth
Colwynn, I wish to notify you that late Mr. Kenneth Colwynn, made you a
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of US$4,500,000.00 (Four Million
Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars Only) to you in the codicil and the last
testament to his will.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the
past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who wished you good.

Mr. Kenneth Colwynn, until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society
and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very
dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned
him numerous awards during his lifetime. Late Mr. Kenneth Colwynn, died on
the 16th day of February 2020 at the age of 90 years and his WILL is now
ready for execution.

According to him, this money is to support his charity activities to help
the poor and needy.

Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon
as possible to enable me to conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no
distant date.

Please contact me ASAP.

Regards,

James Hagen

Anti-fraud resources: