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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a orphan scam.
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.
- caroline.dabah1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Caroline Dabah"
<postmaster@sandbox61ea66de41b340fea317a60a8de090a0.mailgun.org>
Reply-To: caroline.dabah1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2016 10:42:16 +0100
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is miss Caroline dabah the daughter of colonel Dabah Adisa from South Sudan I am (26) years old, single and never married, 5ft 8 inches Tall, 55kg weight, black hair and brown eyes, l am from South Sudan and presently l am residing in Republic of Benin as a result of the Political Civil War ongoing conflict that was fought in my country some years ago.

I lost my both Parents during this deadly Political Civil War ongoing conflict. That Damaged Thousands of innocent Souls in South Sudan . My family was among the first target of the rebels because my Late father is a Successful business man and He was chairman managing director, ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL COMPANY in the capital of my Country Due to this all the members of my family was Murdered in a cold Blood and our family house was set blazed. I was Lucky and escaped death because i was in bordering school when this deadly incident took place. It is only myself who is alive now and l managed to make my way to a nearby country Republic of Benin where l am staying now and never pray or think to step my legs in that bloody country called South Sudan again. However, I would like to know more about you. Your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and what you are doing presently. Life is very difficult for me here. I really want to relocate and get out of this country. I don't have any relatives now whom i can go to, all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war. I want to go back to school to complete my studies because i only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to my being in this situation now took place.

Please listen to this, i have my late father's Deposit Certificate and Death certificate here with me which i will send to you later, because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in one of the security company bank which he used my name as the next of kin, the amount in question is ( $ 4.7 Million US Dollars ). I shall offer you 40% of the fund for your help, while you will invest 60% for me in a good business in your country, as my investment manager

I kept this a top secret and would like you to maintain the confidential nature and only keep it to yourself and don't tell it to anyone for i am afraid of loosing my life and the money if people gets to know about it. Remember i am giving you all this information due to the trust i have on you. I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, truth and Hardworking.

Awaiting to read from you soonest,

Best regard,

Miss. Caroline Dabah
Email: caroline.dabah1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam