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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: "Miss. Pamela H Swan" <misspamelahswan@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:38:56 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Urgent.




Good Day,



My name is Miss. Pamela H Swan I am a dying woman who had decided to donate what I have to a reliable individual who will act as I will instruct here. I am 63 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late father to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my uncle to use my father’s hard earned funds ungodly.



I will be undergoing an operation in London , and I pray that I survive the operation. I have decided to WILL the sum of $17,250,000.00USD (Seventeen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only) deposited in a secured bank in West Africa, to you for the good work of the lord, the orphanage, the needy and to help the motherless.



Presently, I have informed my Doctor, Dr. John Kelvin's about my decision in WILLING this fund to a reliable individual, you are to get back to me immediately if you are interested in carrying out this task, so that I will instruct you on how to get in contact with my doctor and my account officer.



Lastly, I know I have never meet you, but in other to fulfill this which borders me most and I got your email address through my personal search on the Internet, my mind tells me to inform you about this, and I hope you act sincerely, please get back to me immediately.



God bless you.

Miss. Pamela

Anti-fraud resources: