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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: Carol Harmony <carolharmony05@gmail.com>
Reply-To: caroloo1@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 08:43:15 +0100
Subject: Re: URGENT

--
Dear Friend,

Greetings. I know that this message will look strange, surprising and
probably unbelievable to you, but it is true and reality. I want to
transfer the sum of: £22,000,000 (Twenty Two Million Pounds) to you. I
am contacting you by the Will of God. My name is: Mrs. Carol Harmony,
I am a British business woman specialized in mining of raw Gold and
Diamond in Africa; but now I am very sick with esophageal cancer which
has damaged almost all the cells in my organisms/system and I will
soon die according to my doctors. My late husband died in an accident
some years ago leaving me with our only child whom is just 8 years
old. Now, my most concern is my only little son whom does not know
anything about live and has nobody to take care of him after I am
dead; because I and my late husband does not have any relation, we
both grew up in the orphanage home and got married under orphanage as
orphans. If I die soon, my innocent child would be left alone in the
wilderness of live and I do not wish to send him to any orphanage
home, I want my son to grow up in the hands of an individual, not
orphanage. Please, i am begging you in the name of God to sincerely
accept my proposal; let me order/instruct my bank to wire transfer my
entire fund worth the sum of: £22 MILLION to your account in your
country immediately, then you take my son to your home and raise him
as your own son.

Please reply immediately so that i will tell you full details and send
you all the vital documents for your perusal. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Carol Harmony.
IN GOD I TRUST.

Anti-fraud resources: