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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: "Violet Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <violet.williams216@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 May 2016 00:35:58 +0100
Subject: I warmly greet you

Dear Friend,

I warmly greet you

Greetings in the name of God, Please let this not sound strange to you
for my only surviving lawyer who would have done this died early this
year prayed and got your email id from your country's Christian guest book which I have been
with my late husband and liked to visit once more if God will in his
infinite mercies.


I am Mrs. Violet Williams from UK I am 63 years old am suffering from
a long time cancer of the lungs which also affected my brain, from all
indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that, according to my
doctors they have advised me that I may not live for the next two
months, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a
motherless babies home was married to my late husband for twenty years
without a child, my husband died in fatal motor accident Before his death we were true Christians.
Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited
belongings and deposited all the sum of (6.5 Million Pounds) with Zenith Bank Plc.



Presently, this money is still with them and the management just wrote
me as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping
it so long or rather issue a letter ofauthorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since
I cannot come over because of my illness or they get it confiscated.



Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital in Switzerland where I
have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. My doctors
have told me that I have only a few months tolive. It is my last wish to see that this money is
invested to any organization of your choice and distributed each year
among the charity organization,the poor and the motherless baby's home.


I want you as God fearing person, to also use this money to fund
churches, orphanages and widows; I took this decision, before I rest
in peace because my time will soon be up.


As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Zenith Bank Plc in the UK. I will also issue you a letter of authority
that will prove you as the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly
as I stated herein.



You are requested to send to me the following information to enable me
use it to write a Letter of Authorization on your behalf to the bank
so that they will release

the money to you as my new next of beneficiary.

(1)Your full names#:

(2) Personal or official contact address#:

(3) Home or Office phone#:======Cell phone# Fax#:=======

(4) Your Age#:

(5)Occupation#:

(6)Sex/Marital status#:


Hoping to hear from you soon.

Waiting for your reply

Thanks
Mrs. Violet Williams

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