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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 SOPHIE BRANDON" <mrssophiebrandon@gmx.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 13:50:11 +0100
Subject: THANKS AND GOD BLESS.


LONDON,

UNITED KINGDOM

MY DEAREST BELOVED FRIEND,

COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON.

MY NAME IS MRS SOPHIE BRANDON, I AM A DYING WOMAN WHO HAS DECIDED TO DONATE WHAT I HAVE TO YOU, CHURCH OR MOSQUE. I AM 53 YEARS OLD AND I WAS DIAGNOSED FOR CANCER FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS LEFT ME EVERYTHING HE WORKED FOR AND BECAUSE THE DOCTORS TOLD ME I WILL NOT LIVE LONGER THAN SOME WEEKS BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH,

I DECIDED TO WILL/DONATE THE SUM OF US$1,900,000 (ONE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) TO YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK OF HUMANITY, AND ALSO TO HELP THE MOTHERLESS AND LESS PRIVILEGE AND ALSO FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF THE WIDOWS.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY, AND PLEASE USE THE FUNDS WELL AND ALWAYS EXTEND THE GOOD WORK TO OTHERS.

I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS MATTER UNTIL THE TASK IS ACCOMPLISHED AS I DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT WILL JEOPARDIZE MY LAST WISH.

PLEASE REPLY ME BACK TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: mrssophiebrandon@gmx.com http://www.gmx.fr/callgate-6.73.1.0/rms/6.73.1.0/mail/getBody?folderIdmessageId=ZXFpbzQrRiYoRBx88WFiYjRpaKhEztrI&purpose splay&bodyType=html#&lang&lang&lang&lang

THANKS AND GOD BLESS.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MRS SOPHIE BRANDON

Anti-fraud resources: