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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: "MR. ALEX JAMES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.alexjamess@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2019 16:48:27 -0700
Subject: GOOD TURN THEY SAID DESERVES ANOTHER.

MY GOOD FIREND,
 
IT IS ONLY THE DAFT THAT FORGOT GOOD THINGS DONE TO THEM ESPECIALLY IN THEIR TIME OF DIFFICULTIES. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU BUT YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ME.
 
I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT I FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN THE TRANSACTION SINCE YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME CONCLUDED IT.
I AM NOW IN BAHAMAS WITH MR.PETER HELMAN WHO HELPED ME TO TRANSFER THE MONEY.WE ARE VERY BUSY HERE ON THE INVESTMENT PROJECT.
 
HOWEVER,FOR THE SAKE OF POSTERITY I COULD NOT BUT FORGET ALL THE EFFORTS YOU MADE TO CONCLUDE WITH ME,BUT CIRCUMSTANCE DID NOT WARRANT YOU.CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE PREPARED A CHEQUE OF USD $ 1.500,000.00 AS A COMPENSATION FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
LEFT THE CHEQUE WITH MY SECRETARY Mrs. Phyllis CHURCHILL WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO GET IT ACROSS TO YOU.
 
YOU CAN CONTACT Mrs. Phyllis CHURCHILL
Email:  mrju20187@gmail.com
 
AND DISCUSS WITH HIM ON HOW YOU WISH TO COLLECT THE CHEQUE. I THINK IT WORTH DOING SO THAT GOD WHO SHOWED HIS MERCY TO ME WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS ME.
 
THANKS AND GOOD BYE MY GOOD FRIEND
MR. ALEX JAMES

Anti-fraud resources: