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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: "Marian Llitch" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marian.llitch@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:27:23 +0300
Subject: Re:

Hello,

I am Mrs. Marian Ilitch, I bring to you a humanitarian project I am involved in, with heavy sorrow in my heart, I should let you know that I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and a rare form of heart disease for the last 6 years and just a few weeks ago I was told by my doctor that I had little time left, which is why I have decided to contact you out of faith and hope. I know there would be some suspicion to this mail but I do plead with you to contact me for further details so as to erase any doubts and I promise you that you will not regret this.

Please get back to me for further details as I humbly await your response.

Remain Blessed,
Mrs. Marian Ilitch.

Anti-fraud resources: