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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: Catherine Afred <catherineafred44@gmail.com>
Reply-To: catherineafred111@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:01:18 +0200
Subject: With Due Respect

from Mrs. Catherine AfredDear beloved One,I greet you in the name of God, it is true that this letter may cometo you as a surprise but nevertheless, I humbly ask you to give meyour attention and hear me well. My name is Mrs. Catherine Afred, I am62 years old and I am married to Mr. William Afred, and we weremarried for a period of 30 years before he died in 2019.We were married for 30 years without a child and he died after a briefillness and since his death I decided not to remarry due to myreligious belief and old age. When my late husband was alive hedeposited the sum of three million five hundred thousand Euros (3.5Million Euros) with a Bank here. Presently this money is still in thecustody of the Bank. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not lastfor the next four months due to my cancer illness.Having known my condition I decided to donate this money to churches,organizations or good people that will utilize this fund in a way I amgoing to instruct for a proper idea on how this fund would be used.I want you to use this money for charity organizations, orphanages,widows and other people that are in need. I took this decision becauseI don't have any child that will inherit this money. Moreover, myhusband's relatives are not close to me since I developed cancerillness and it had been their wish to see me dead so as to enable themto inherit his wealth hence we have no Child. This people are notworthy of this inheritance. This is why I am taking this decision tocontact you and donate this fund to you for the charity works.And 30%of this money will be for your time and effort, while 70% goes tocharities.As soon as I receive your reply, I will give you the contact of theBank where this fund is deposited by my deceased husband before hissudden death, also I will instruct our family lawyer to issue letterof authorization to the bank that will present you the beneficiary ofthis fund and I also want you to always put me in your daily prayer.Any delay in your reply may give me room to look for another goodperson for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will actaccordingly as I stated above.Thanks and Remain blessed.Yours sisterMrs. Catherine Afred

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