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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.Mónika Montgomery" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmonikamontgomery@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2018 11:48:20 -0700
Subject: RE:LETTER

Dear Friend,
I am highly delighted to be in contact with you,this may seem as a surprise due to the fact that we have not met or known each other before. After searching through your country's Chamber of Commerce and industry here in London,I am contacting you for your kind assistance, I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you pains as you read this. I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday, My name is Mrs.Mónika Montgomery, I am 70 years old, I'm living in London, But I'm from Germany. My late husband died along with our daughter on 25th July, 2000,Air France Concorde flight 4590 plane crash.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm
I am a dying Woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless babies/less privileged/widows. I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good work of God. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has, because he is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation soon. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $20 million U.S. Dollars to you for the good work of God, And also to help the motherless, less privilege and also for the assistance of widows. At the moment, I cannot take any telephone calls right now.
I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the Funds judiciously and always extend the good work to others. As soon you get back to me, I shall give you information on what I need from you then you will have to contact my bank and tell them I have WILLED the ($20 million U.S. Dollars) to you by quoting my personal reference number and I have also notified my Bank that I have WILL that amount to you for a good, effective and prudent work. I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this by God. I hope to receive a positive response from you as soon as possible my Email: ( mrsmonikamontgomery@gmail.com)
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards,
Mrs.Mónika Montgomery

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