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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: "Mrs. Helen Baillie" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <helenbaillie2@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2017 12:59:44 +0100
Subject: S..GOOD MORNING

May the peace of God be with you and with your family, I am Mrs. Helen Baillie from
Scotland, I am  a Missionary in Africa but I was urgently transfer back to Scotland
United Kingdom because of my health condition,  I am seriously sick and my doctor
instructed me to write my WILL because I may not live  up to two  months after my
upcoming surgery, That is the reason why I am contacting you after  getting some
good details about you from Internet, since everybody around me are after my  down
fall and my husband relative are after my wealth, I prefer to donate it to you, I have
prayed over  it and I am willing to donate  the sum of Five Million British pounds Sterling
to you, I want you  to use it to help the poor in your country  and to work for God, I am
doing this because wealth without good work is in vain, I hope my trusting in you will
not be in vain, please kindly reply  for more details.
 
Regards
 
Mrs. Helen Baillie

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