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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: "Mrs. Carolyn Todd" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carolynto020@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 19:52:39 +0100
Subject: Bless You

May The Lord Bless You My Dear   
I am Mrs. Carolyn Todd from Providence Rhode Island, United State of America, age I'm 75 years  old, I am married to Mr. Charles Todd, Africa America, my husband and I worked with Shell Oil and Gas Company in Africa before he died after a brief illness that lasted only 1 week, we were married for Fifty-nine years without a child, since the death of my late husband, his family has been on my neck frustrating me for the document of my late husband property.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($4.5 million USD) with Diamond Bank,Presently this money is still with the Bank, this morning I got an email from the bank attached with the next of kin form to fill it and get it scanned back to them for the transfer of the fund to me as the next of kin, or I should rather issue! somebody to fill it and receive and receive the fund on my behalf.
 
Presently, I'm in hospital in Netherlands where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer illness, Having known my condition, I decided to donate this funds to a good person that will utilize it the way I am going to instruct herein, I need an honest person who can claim this money and use it for Charity works, orphanages and widows who are in need of help as my last wish. My dear I need your information requested below so I can forward it to the bank to let the management Know I have gotten you as my next of kin to receive my fund.
 
Name:
 
Address:
 
Phone Number:
 
Please I need your urgent reply.
 
Yours Beloved
Mrs. Carolyn Todd

Anti-fraud resources: