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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: "LILIAN KAREN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <liliankaren000@inbox.lv>
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2016 17:12:50 -0700
Subject: Hello!!

HI AM LILIAN KAREN ,AM LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE,CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN
THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.
 
I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS,TWO BROTHERS WITH OUR FAMILY
HOUSE DURING THE BOMB EXPLOSION  AT THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS). I
AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE OUTSIDE HOME AT THE
TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM WRITING YOU NOW FROM OUR CHURCH WHERE THE
VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION  ARE KEPT
INCLUDING MYSELF. NO HOUSE, NO GOOD  HEALTH,
 
BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US ($15.5MILLION
USD) IN CASH WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY.NOW THAT HE
IS LATE AND I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST
ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY,INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE
BUSINESS AND RELOCATE ME TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF
INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE IN LIBYA, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY
HERE ANY LONGER.
 
PLEASE INDICATE YOUR READINESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT ALL THE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS WILL BE PASSED TO YOU IMMEDIATELY. SEND
TO ME YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.
AND ALSO ASSURE ME YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME AT THE END OF THIS
TRANSACTION  KEEP THIS  TO YOURSELF ONLY. IF THIS TRANSACTION IS
PROPERLY EXECUTED,  I AM PREPARED TO GIVE YOU 50% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR
YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.

Anti-fraud resources: