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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: "Dr.Patrick Williams" <mrpwilliams1958@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kojoj3131@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:35:10 +0100
Subject: Good Day My Dear.

--
Good Day My Dear.

I wish to intimate you with a request that would be of immense benefit
to both of us.I am Dr. Patrick Williams the director in charge of
auditing and accounting section of a bank here in Republic of Benin,my
department came across a huge sum of $27M belongs to deceased late
Mrs. Surti Dahlia, a German/Dutch businesswoman and widow from
Netherlands who died on March 8, 2014.

Since her death,this bank has been waiting for the next of kin to come
for the claim of her balance, having gone through a methodical search
for her next of kin, I personally have failed in the search for her
relatives.

I seek your consent to present you to the bank as the real next of kin
of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$27M
can be paid to you. All legal documents to back up your claim as the
real next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from all breach of the law. If this business
proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must
use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence
to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your
decision, while I await your prompt response.

On the conclusion of this transaction to your account, 50% would be
given to you as gratification, 1% for expenses, while 49% is for me
and partner..

I look forward to your quick reply.

Dr. Patrick Williams.

Anti-fraud resources: