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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: "Craig Donaldson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <crraigdonaldson@indamail.hu>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:31:41 -0000
Subject: YOUR INFORMATION

Greetings
I'm Craig Donaldson, I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client  who died in an auto accident on the Marylebone London , England in 29 August 2008, he was a prominent client of mine. He happens to share the same name with you.
Before his death, my client deposited (£8.5) at the vault of a financial institution here in London, England, documentations regarding these transaction indicates that claims can only be made by his relatively member. Unfortunately he had no will at the time of his death. All efforts made revealed no link to any of his family member.
However, the New UK law of succession/claims/fund indicates a duration in which such claims could be tolerated. The financial institution have mandated me to present the next of kin or a relative who will claim the funds and Failure to respond to this ultimatum would legally allow the financial institute to report this funds to the Bank of England as unclaimed funds (Lacle of supersede).
 
It is my intention to introduce this opportunity to you as the beneficiary.Upon your decision of acceptance, I would process the release of these funds to your possession; you would be entitled to 50% of the said funds and 50% for me
For security reasons, I have decided not to add more information into this letter, but immediately you get in touch with me, I would be able to inform you on how this could be concluded.
 
For time difference and confidential reasons, I strongly advise that you firstly contact me
via email"Its' been my wish to have an investment outside my country, so this is an opportunity for me to invest my share of these funds in your country For more details, Kindly get back to me.
 
Sincerely
Craig Donaldson
 

Anti-fraud resources: