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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.Joan Chen" <mrs.joan71chen@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:12:44 +0000
Subject: Greetings dear friend

Greetings dear friend

My Name Is Mrs.Joan Chen, From Canada, I have been suffering from
ovarian cancer disease and the doctor says that I have just a short
time to live. And for the past Twelve years, I have been dealing on
gold exportation, before this disease crippled me down. My late
husband, Dr. Jake Chen , a retired diplomat and one time minister of
mines and Power in Africa and Asia. Made a lot of money from the sales
of Gold and cotton while he was a minister, but we had no child of our
own.

later my husband realized through a powerful man of God that it was
evil course instituted by his brother in other to inherit his wealth,
but before then it was too late, I and my husband agreed that he
should remarry another wife but our religion did not permit it, while
planning this my husband’s brother heard it and they planned and
killed my husband at the tender age of 59, he died in the month of
September 2009. Now I am very sick and according to the doctor, will
not survive the sickness. The worst of it all is that I do not have
any family members or children to inherit my wealth. I am writing this
letter now through the help of the computer beside my bed.

I have Twenty-one million United States dollars (US$21,000,000.00),
deposited in Asia BANK and I am willing to instruct my bank to
transfer the said fund to you as my foreign Trustee. You will apply to
the bank that they should release the fund to you, but you will assure
me that you will take 20% of the fund and give 80% to the orphanage
home in your country for my soul to rest after I have gone. In my next
email, I will send you the copy of the Certificate of Deposit which
will enable you to apply to the bank and receive the money with ease.

This money is still with them and the management just wrote me as the
true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it solo or
rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my
behalf since I cannot come over because of my illness or they get it
confiscated. Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital here where I
have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. It is my last
wish to see that this money is invested to any organization of your
choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the
poor and the motherless babies’ home.

I want you as God fearing person, to also use this money to fund
orphanages and widows; I took this decision, before I rest in peace
because my time will soon be up. As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of them. I am absolutely assuring you that
no trouble is involved in this money because this is my late husband's
money.Respond to me immediately for further details and instructions
since I am in the end times of my life due to the ovarian cancer
disease.
Hoping to receive your response as soon as possible.

Your urgently responses is needed

Thanks and Remain blessed
Mrs.Joan Chen

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