419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- misspamelaheleneswan@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss. Pamela H Swan" <misspamelahswan1@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <misspamelaheleneswan@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2014 09:45:26 +0100
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?I_HAVE_WIL?= =?windows-1256?Q?LED_THE_SU?=
=?windows-1256?Q?M_OF_$17=2C2?= =?windows-1256?Q?50=2C000.00U?=
=?windows-1256?Q?SD_TO_YOU.?= =?windows-1256?Q?=FE.....FOR_?=
=?windows-1256?Q?THE_HELP_O?= =?windows-1256?Q?F_THE_POOR?=
=?windows-1256?B?/v7+/v7+/g==?=

Good Day,

I Thank God almighty that I finally got you, let sincerity be our bond,
my names are Miss. Pamela H Swan, I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you for the help of the poor people around you. I am 63 years
old and was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago. I was touched by the holy
spirit to take this decision, rather than allow my greedy uncle to use my
husband’s hard earned fund Ungodly, I will be undergoing an operation in London
to correct the damages coursed by the cancerous disease in my lungs, and I pray
that I survive the operation.

This money when added with my personal savings is around
$17,250,000.00usd(seventeen million two hundred and fifty Thousand United
States Dollars Only) .It is deposited in a secured bank in West Africa, please
when you receive this money, more priority should be given to the
good work of the lord, especially the orphanage, the needy and to help the
motherless.

Presently, I have informed my Attorney, about my decision in WILLING this fund
to you, 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
attorney and my account officer.

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 should encase I
did not survive this major operation I am about to go through now, but all I
need now is prayers.

If you are willing to handle this fund for the purpose mentioned above, get
back to me with the below details to enable me prepare my LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT IN YOUR NAME as my next of kin and the rightful beneficiary to the
fund.

Your full
name...........

Your mobile
number............

Your
age.......................

Your
sex...........................

Your identification
proof....................

Your
occupation...............................

Your country and city.......................

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in this matter to
accomplish my heart desire, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my
last wish. Always write to me with the below email address: (misspamelaheleneswan@gmail.com)

Thanks and God bless.

From Miss. Pamela

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam