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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: Linda Smith <lindasmithoffice@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:59:06 +0100
Subject: DOING THE WILL OF GOD.

I am Mrs Linda Smith, a widow to the late Andrew Kelly. I am 56 years
old, I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from lung cancer.
From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it is
quite obvious that I would only live for a short period. According to
my doctors, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad
stage. My late husband was killed during the U.S. Raid against
terrorism in Afghanistan, and during the period of our marriage we
couldn't produce any child.

My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all
his business and wealth. The doctors have advised me that I would only
live for a short period, so I now decided to divide the part of this
wealth, to contribute to the development of the churches all over the
world and the less privileged. I selected you after visiting the
website and I prayed over it.

I am willing to donate the sum of $12,500.000.00 USD (Twelve Million,
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to the less privileged.
Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a Spanish Bank
and upon my instruction, my attorney, who presently is in Spain, will
file an application for you for the transfer of the money in your
name.

Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when transferred will be used
for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth
acquisition without Christ is vanity.

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of
God be with you and your family. I await an urgent reply.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs Linda Smith.

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