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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. Catherine Chan" <critsalites@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:55:21 +0100
Subject: Please, read from Mrs Chan.

Please, read from Mrs Chan.

I am Mrs Catherine Ella Chan, a 65 years old woman from New Zealand, I grew
up an orphan and God blessed me with abundant riches but have no children.
I am not a happy woman because i have no husband and children. I lost my
lovely husband 21 years ago.

Sadly, I'm suffering from cancer of the lungs which has spread so fast. I
also have a partial stroke that has affected my speech. I cannot talk well
and half of my body is paralyzed. I sent this email to you with the help of
my doctor who helped me type my request at the China Cancer Research
facility here in Lome-Togo.

My condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that my time on
earth is so short as my cancer has gotten to its 3rd stage. Having known my
fate, i decided to divide part of my fortune by donating to the charity and
orphans. I don't know you but i am contacting you with the hope that you
will be able to carry out my last wishes for the sake of humanity. I am
willing to donate the sum of Seven Million Four Hundred Thousand, United
States dollars ($7,400,000.00) to the poor through you. I have also made
some cash donations to orphanage children in Somalia, Syria, Ethiopia,
Cambodia, Philippines, South Sudan and some in South Africa and Europe. If
you are willing and able to do this task and serve humanity, do send me the
information below for more details on how to receive the funds.

1. Name.................................
2. Phone number.....................
3. Address..............................

May God guide you.
Mrs Catherine E. Chan

Anti-fraud resources: