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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: Lina Becker <blina4354@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 19:02:39 +0100
Subject: Please


Hello Dear One,
Just a little introduction about myself, I’m Mrs. Lina Becker, from Houston
Texas, USA, based in London U.K. I’m 81years old. Please don't be offended
over this sudden and surprising reach-out. But at this point I have no
other option than to trust you with this as a fellow child of God who will
not betray me, I want to hand over this noble project to you with trust. I
have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of
medical treatment, and Right now, I have only a few weeks to live according
to the last scan carried out on me by the doctors. I have eight million
nine hundred thousand US dollars ($9,700,000) that I deposited with a
Financial/Security Company in Switzerland which I sold from my late husband
company before I came to the hospital for treatment, as am about to die I
want you to contact the security company on my behalf to release and
deliver this fund to you in your country as my next of kin, I want you to
distribute this fund to charities homes and less privileged ones and build
churches as my promise to God. I Will give you 25% of the total money for
your assistance.
May the grace, peace, love, and the truth in the Word of God be with you
and all those that you love and care for. I would love to stop here for
now, and wait for your immediate reply.
Mrs. Lina Becker

Anti-fraud resources: