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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: "Mrs.Joan Chen" <mrsjoanchen11@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:19:38 +0200
Subject: Greetings dear friend

Greetings dear friend
My Name Is Mrs.Joan Chen, from Canada, I have been suffering from
ovarian cancer disease and the doctor says that I have just a short
time to live. And for the past Twelve years, I have been dealing on
gold exportation, before this disease crippled me down. My late
husband, Dr. Jake Chen , a retired diplomat and one time minister of
mines and Power. Made a lot of money from the sales of Gold and cotton
while he was a minister, but we had no child of our own.

later my husband realized through a powerful man of God that it was
evil course instituted by his brother in other to inherit his wealth,
but before then it was too late, I and my husband agreed that he
should remarry another wife but our religion did not permit it, while
planning this my husband’s he died in the month of September 2009. Now
I am very sick and according to the doctor, will not survive the
sickness. The worst of it all is that I do not have any family members
or children to inherit my wealth. I am writing this letter now through
the help of the computer beside my bed.

I have (20.5Million Dollars) deposited in BANK there and I am willing
to instruct my bank to transfer the said fund to you as my foreign
Trustee. You will apply to the bank that they should release the fund
to you, but you will assure me that you will take 20% of the fund and
give 80% to the orphanage home in your country for my soul to rest
after I have gone. In my next email, I will send you the copy of the
Certificate of Deposit which will enable you to apply to the bank and
receive the money with ease.This money is still with them and the
management just wrote me as the true owner to come forward to receive
the money for keeping it solo or rather issue a letter of
authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I cannot
come over because of my illness or they get it confiscated. Presently,
I'm with my laptop in a hospital here where I have been undergoing
treatment for cancer of the lungs. It is my last wish to see that this
money is invested to any organization of your choice and distributed
each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless
babies’ home.

I want you as God fearing person, to also use this money to fund
orphanages and widows; I took this decision, before I rest in peace
because my time will soon be up. As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of them. I am absolutely assuring you that
no trouble is involved in this money because this is my late husband's
money.Respond to me immediately for further details and instructions
since I am in the end times of my life due to the ovarian cancer
disease.
Hoping to receive your response as soon as possible.

Your urgently responses is needed
Thanks and Remain blessed
Yours Sister in The Lord,
Mrs.Joan Chen

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