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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mother Donna Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <motherdonna@yandex.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016 03:25:02 -0700
Subject: GET BACK TO ME ASAP

 
Peace be with you.
 
How are you doing today? I hope the good mercy of God is upon you and your lovely family. I know this message might look strange or surprise to you, but please do not disregard this message because i come in peace, with the help of God our father who directed me to you in my dream. I am Miss. Donna Brown, I got your contact on my personal search on a reliable trustworthy person to will my fund to, and you were reviewed to me by the spirit of God in my dream. Base on that, i have willed the only fund left in my account to you as i was directed in my dream by God, Please, all i want you to do is to use my fund for a charity organization orphanage home for the lesser privilege in your home country.
 
secondly, if you want to know more details of why I have willed the only funds left in my account to you, please do reply me and i will explain more in details to you, I also need you to keep me in your prayers because right now I am in the hospital taking treatment for my strange illness.
 
My beloved one, I want you to understand that this is genuine and not a scam, as you might think, and bear this in your mind that if I should SCAM you or any one today, it will definitely turn against me, if not now definitely in the future to come, because it is said that what goes around comes around. I am a dedicated Christian and I do know the implication of such acts. May the lord bless you as you reach me.
 
Thank you as I await your response.
 
Mother Donna Brown

Anti-fraud resources: