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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: Elizabeth Benjamin <gary.everts79@gmail.com>
Reply-To: elizab.jamin@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:28:41 -1200
Subject: Greetings to you.

Hello dear,

I would really like to have a good relationship with you, and I have
special reasons why I decided to contact you. I decided to contact you
because of the urgency of my situation here now.

I am Miss Elizabeth Benjamin, an Army surgeon from the United States.
Certainly, this is to bring to your notice, that I am in United States at
the moment with our troops ongoing peacekeeping in the area, based on the
situation on ground here in the military zone camp we are not allow to make
use of mobile phone, we only make use of radio message and email
communication, I have decided to communicate via emails only.

My dear, listen to me and read this message very well, I have the sum of
$10,000,000 millions dollars which I got from an oil deal here in the
United States. This $10,000,000 millions dollars has been deposited in
Citibank by the military officials and I have made solid arrangements with
the bank and the bank has promised to transfer the fund to any of my chosen
destinations as soon as I present the rightful beneficiary.

I decided to contact you to help me transfer the money to your account, and
you will help me to invest the money in your country. Since I have survived
two bomb attacks here, which prompted me to search out for a reliable and
trustworthy person to help me transfer the funds.

Due to the United Nations policy on the United States, there is a plan to
move some troops out of the United States and I will be among the people
that will be moving out. My dear, I cannot take the money with me because
since they know me as a military personnel, they will want to know how I
come about it. Due to this, I have made solid arrangements with the bank to
help me transfer the money and they have accepted and promised to transfer
the money to my choosing destination.

It is a very urgent issue because my assignment here will be over soon. I
need to send this money out from here fast, that is why I decided to
contact you to help me transfer the money. Here in the military zone camp
all our activities are monitored. This transfer is going to be handled
legally. I want you to stand as my rightful beneficiary and help me receive
the money.

My dear, I want to plead with you not to discuss this matter to any other
person until the funds are transferred. I have chosen to contact you after
my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my dream.

It is my intention to compensate you with 40% of the total amount of money
for your services and the balance will be my investment capital. This is
the reason why I decided to contact you. As soon as you receive the
transfer. I will resign as a soldier and fly to meet you in your country
for the investment.

I would be grateful for your urgent communications indicating your ability
and willingness to help me receive the money to your account. My
dear I would like to know more about you and your country, also send me
your picture.

Best regards,

Miss Elizabeth Benjamin
Army Surgeon
Email; elizab.jamin@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: