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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. Mai Hynoi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <maihynoi290@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2022 13:01:47 -0000
Subject: Re.With warm hearts I offer my friendship and my greetings

Hi,
 
With warm hearts I offer my friendship and my greetings
 
I am sincerely seeking your confidence in this matter which I propose with my free mind and as a woman of integrity. My name is Mrs. Mai Hynoi , I’m from  Japan. I am terminally ill and have decided to donate my inheritance I got from my late husband to you for a charity project in your town. I have been diagnosed with acute cancer for about 2 years now.  From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live all that long;  this is because the cancer has reached a critical stage.
 
I shall be undergoing major operations in less than two weeks from now. If you are sure that you will use the donated fund as I have advised here,
 
Get back to me for more details.
 
Thanks and kind regards.
 
Mrs. Mai Hynoi

Anti-fraud resources: