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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: "destiny williams" <destiny_gpa25@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:09:57 +0000
Subject: GOODFAITH

ATTENTION;

MR IAN HUNT

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY WITH ALL HOPE YOU ARE
DOING FINE IF SO THANKS BE TO GOD.YOUR MAIL DATED WAS WELL RECEIVED AND THE
CONTENT IS VERY MUCH UNDERSTOODABLE.


CONSCERNING WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT YOU BEEN DEFRAUDED WELL I MUST TELL YOU THAT
THIS IS TRUE AND I HEAR ABOUT ALL THIS THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND IT
MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WHO IS TO BE TRUSTED IN THIS LIFE BUT LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT MY LATE NANNY DADDY TOLD ME BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY HE USE TO SAY THAT I
SHOULD NOT GEORGE ANYBODY NBEITHER BECAUSE I AM RICH WHOM I DO NOT KNOW THAT
HELP MIGHT COME FROM THAT PERSON. AND HE ALSO SAYS THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVER
TRIED ONCE AND FAIL EVERY OTHER THING IN LIFE WILL BE FAILURE NO LET ME TELL
YOU TODAY THAT THIS ISVERY REAL AND TRUE YOU HAVE NOT DONER ANY THING WITH
ME BEFORE HOW WILL YOU KNOW UNTILL YOU TRY IT OUT.

WELL I AM HUMBLY LOOKING FORWARD TO READ YOUR COURAGIOUS MAIL WITHOUT FEAR
IN IT BECAUSE WHERE I AM YOU ARE SAFE AND SOUND I AM NOT A THIEF OR A
CHEATER I AM JUST A DEAF 21 YEAR OLD GIRL WHOM IS LOOKING FOR SOME TO HELP
ME SO THAT I CAN LIVE THIS GOD FORSAKING COUNTRY.

THANKS

DESTINY WILLIAMS.


Anti-fraud resources: