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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: Kim Walden <kimwaldenw@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 May 2021 07:30:13 -0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP


Beloved

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because I believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Kim Welden. I am a merchant of Oman
nationality but presently residing in London. I have been diagnosed with
Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right
now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.I
have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for
anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was
never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my
business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this
as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make
all the money in the world.I believe when God gives me a second chance to
come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have
lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my
property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as
well as a few close friends.I pray to God to be merciful to me and accept
my soul, so I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want
this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have
distributed my money to some charity organizations in Oman, Algeria and
Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this
myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my
accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organizations in Bulgaria and Pakistan, but they refused and kept the money
to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be
satisfied with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no
one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Forty Five million Pounds
GBP£45,500,000 that I have with HSBC Bank Plc London. I will want you to
help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations.Use
40% yourself and Family and the 60% for the Charity.

God bless you
Kim Welden

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